Hong Kong option for Antino
A trip to Hong Kong could now be on the agenda for Antino after the six-year-old took out Saturday’s Toorak Handicap in tremendous style.
Tony Gollan mentioned Hong Kong post-race, with Antino holding an entry in the Hong Kong Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) on December 8.
“This might change things now,” Gollan told Racing.com. “I was maybe going to go to the Rupert Clarke and then to Hong Kong, but I’ll just play it by ear. We’ll get home and let the dust settle next week.
“You know the horse is at the peak of his powers now. It’s just a matter of holding him in that condition.”
Winning jockey Blake Shinn echoed Gollan’s sentiments and was impressed with Saturday’s performance.
“I’m really delighted to get the win on Antino today,” Shinn said. “He’s been knocking on the door to get that Group 1, and we were hoping today would be the day.
“He stepped a bit slow, but I just rode him conservative and brought him into the race when I felt the speed was slackening a bit, and God, he was strong to the line.
“He’s been running well against the top weight-for-age horses of our country in the lead-up runs to this, and I don’t think there’s a more deserving horse to win this race.
“He trotted out beautifully to the gates, cantered around, and he knows he’s won today. He’s going to get a kick out of it and hopefully, we might be going to Hong Kong after today.”