Antino in good order for G1 Memsie Stakes return

Jockey Jamie Kah can’t wait for the official opening of the Spring Carnival which coincides with the first Group 1 race of the new season in Melbourne.

Kah will ride Queensland visitor Antino in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, her first ride on the gelding under race conditions.

After a three-run campaign in Brisbane where Antino scored first-up at Eagle Farm in the Group 2 Victory Stakes and that was wound up after finishing 12th in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), Antino has had the finishing stages of his campaign completed in Melbourne.

Trainer Tony Gollan sent Antino to Melbourne a couple of weeks ago to prepare for his first-up tilt at the Memsie Stakes and had a jump-out with Pride Of Jenni at Cranbourne on August 19.

That hit-out was over 1000m, with Antino flashing late to finish second behind the Ciaron Maher-trained star who is the $2 favourite in early betting on the Memsie Stakes with Antino a $6 chance.

Antino, who finished a close second in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) in his only previous appearance at Caulfield, was taken back to that track on Tuesday to be reacquainted with the surrounds.

Kah partnered the gelding and said they had not been out to do a lot, adding she was happy with gelding’s condition ahead of Saturday.

“He’s going great. I didn’t do too much on him today because the track was quite firm out there,” Kah said.

“But I’m really looking forward to the weekend with him.

“They’ve done a lot of work with him to get him really sound and spot on for this weekend, so hopefully it pays off.”

Kah said the offer to ride Antino was done through her manager, Lachie Weekley.

With Kah focussing more on her upcoming rides rather than those of the future, Weekley does a lot of the groundwork.

It was where Antino came on his radar.

“I didn’t know a lot about this horse until the last few weeks,” Kah said.

“My manager was the one that got talking about him.

“I’m not one that looks too far forward, and I just really worry about what I’m riding on weekends, but after riding him in his trial last week, I’m excited to be riding him.”

With nominations left open for the Memsie Stakes until 10am on Tuesday, there were no late additions to the Group 1 race with 12 horses entered.

The final field with barriers will be announced on Wednesday.