Sandown Stakes revenge for Queenslander Antino
Queensland’s rising star Antino (Redwood), a New Zealand-bred five-year-old, put a nightmare Melbourne debut behind him, with a comfortable return to winning form in yesterday’s Sandown Stakes (Gr 3, 1500m).
The gelding made a huge impression in Queensland with wins in eight of his first nine starts, headed by a dominant performance in the Wayne Wilson (Listed, 1600m) at Eagle Farm in June.
That blockbuster form prompted his trainer Tony Gollan to set his sights on the Melbourne spring carnival, but his southern raid started with a luckless fourth as odds-on favourite in the The Sofitel (Listed, 1400m) at Flemington on September 16. Hesitant to take a narrow opening along the rail in the straight, he got squeezed back and lost all momentum before coming with big bounds late in the race to get within half a length of the winner.
There were no hard-luck stories yesterday, with new rider Blake Shinn deliberately keeping Antino in clear air away from the inside rail.
Antino was in fourth rounding the home turn, but lengthened stride nicely to move up alongside the fellow New Zealand-bred gelding Here To Shock (Shocking).
“He’s a nice horse – his record suggests that,” Shinn said.
“He did a good job today. He was a bit slow away and did a few things wrong in the early stages, but after that all he wanted to do was relax.
“I think it was important to give him every opportunity, get him into clear galloping room and see what he’s got. He delivered the goods really well.
“He was a bit claustrophobic inside horses in his last start, so I wanted to ensure that he had clear room.
“He was going to win really easily at the 300 metres. Whether he got a bit lost in the big open air after that, it just felt like he was holding back a touch. But he’s an exciting horse and it’s great to get this win on him.
“The more he’s under pressure, the more he’ll keep giving. In a better race – potentially the Toorak – he’ll be very competitive. He’s a good horse.”
Gollan confirmed that Antino’s next start will be the Toorak Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) at Caulfield on October 14, locking in a likely clash against Western Australia’s wonder mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni).
“He was tradesmanlike today without being brilliant yet, but that’s what we’ve seen from him in Brisbane as well,” Gollan said.
“He did that same thing, but then when he gets into his preparation he gets better. So, I think you’ll see him better again in 13 days.”
Bred by Blossom Trading and Breeding Company Ltd, Antino is by Westbury Stud stallion Redwood (High Chaparral), who enjoyed a stellar season in 2022-23, care of multiple Group 1 winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart, Hong Kong Derby runner-up Tuchel, Group 2 winner Platinum Invador and stakes-winning juvenile Solidify, in addition to Antino.
Out of Mahamaya (Bahhare), a sister to Group 1 horses Hurrah and Best Gift, Antino was purchased for NZ$27,000 by New Balance Racing at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Cheltenham Stables.
Antino’s 11-start career has now produced nine wins, a third and a fourth, earning A$481,415 in stakes.
The catalogue for November’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale has already been released with breeze-ups to be held at Te Rapa racecourse on October 16 and 17.