Tony Gollan isn’t expecting a repeat of Antino’s devastating Toorak Handicap performance this weekend, but he hasn’t ruled out something special later in the carnival.
The talented Redwood gelding is set to fine-tune for the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) by stepping out in Saturday’s Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast.
Antino resumed with an 11th in the All Aged Stakes last start, but Brisbane’s leading trainer is optimistic he can recapture the form that saw him blow his rivals away by over six lengths in the Toorak Handicap last spring.
“You won’t see that sort of performance second-up in a Hollindale, but you could see something like that in a Doomben Cup, who knows?” Gollan said.
Since contesting the 1400m Group 1 All Aged Stakes on April 19, Gollan has been pleased with Antino’s progress, particularly after drawing the inside and having no luck last time out.
Saturday marks just Antino’s second attempt at 1800m, his only other outing over the trip coming in the Five Diamonds last spring, where he finished 10th.
“It’s always been the plan to go to the Hollindale second-up, just with the way the races fell,” Gollan said.
“He was a pass mark for me in the All Aged, especially the way the race was run.
“Obviously we’ll ride him to give him a bit more room on the Gold Coast and, providing he handles the surface, there’s no reason why he couldn’t run really well.
“He’s definitely fit enough for the 1800. He’s improved out of sight from the trip to Sydney and back and he’ll get there in very good order second-up.”
Antino sits on the second line of Hollindale Stakes betting at $5, with Group 1 winner Buckaroo heading the market at $3.50.