Antino primed for G1 Toorak Handicap assault

A slight alteration to the campaign of Antino is what trainer Tony Gollan is banking on turning around the fortunes of the gelding at Group 1 level.

Antino finished second in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield last year and returns 12 months later, with 1kg more, looking to go one better.

The gelding went into last year’s Toorak at his third run after a Winter campaign in Brisbane while this time around he will be fourth-up.

Gollan believes that extra run will give him an edge on Saturday while conceding Saturday’s race will not be a walk in the park.

But the trainer believes Antino is in career best form after the gelding finished a 2-¼ length third to Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 27.

That followed his 4-¾ length third to that same pair in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington two weeks earlier.

“The other night was just what I wanted to see from him going into the Toorak,” Gollan said of the gelding’s Feehan Stakes performance.

“He got to the race third-up last year and he probably just peaked a touch before the line, and got beaten, so I really wanted to get him there on his fourth run in this time.

“Everything I saw in the Feehan is what I wanted to see for Saturday, and now it’s just going to be a matter of if he’s good enough, I suppose.”

While the Feehan was a small field of only four runners, Gollan said Antino appreciated the solid tempo that Pride Of Jenni provided.

Gollan is again hoping for a solid tempo in Saturday’s Group 1 handicap that has attracted a field of 13 runners in which Antino will jump from barrier eight.

“He does not seem to mind racing against Pride Of Jenni,” Gollan said.

“He travels on the bridle when she’s out doing her thing, so he does not mind that sort of pressure.

“His sectionals were great the other night and there’s no reason why he couldn’t take that form or a touch better to Saturday.

“And you know what Group 1 handicaps are like, you just need the luck on the day, so ideally, you’d like something to set a nice tempo, and very rarely do they run slowly in Group 1 handicaps.”

While Gollan has not laid eyes on Antino since the Feehan Stakes placing, he has been kept up to date with videos of the gelding from Baylee Nothdurft.

“He’s as fit as what he needs to be and it’s just a matter of everything going well for the next few days,” Gollan said.