Best I've ridden: Jimmy Orman lands gun Victorian spring ride on Antino

Jimmy Orman will ride Antino first up in Melbourne during the spring. Picture: Grant Peters–Trackside Photography.

Champion jockey Jimmy Orman has secured the ride on boom Queenslander Antino for his first-up Victorian spring carnival run and delivered a stinging warning to his rivals, declaring he is the best horse he's ridden.

The Tony Gollan-trained gelding boasts an eight wins from nine starts record and has untapped upside, with Orman in the saddle for every career run to date.

While he is set for a low-key kick off point in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington on September 16, Antino is the second favourite for the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, behind superstar Perth mare Amelia's Jewel.

With a close connection to the horse, Orman said it was impossible to turn down the opportunity to ride him, but made it clear he has nothing locked in past September 16, due to Antino's relatively low rating, meaning he could struggle to make the weight in Group 1 handicaps.

"I reckon he is the best horse I've ridden," Orman declared.

"If I have to give up a few winners in Brisbane, that is the least of my worries if I get to ride him down there.

"I have won eight races on him, so he goes pretty good."

Gollan was desperate to get into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap with Antino, but missed a run due to his low rating, so set his sights on the spring instead.

Antino is a leading contender for a number of spring features. Picture: Grant Peters — Trackside Photography.

Orman rode fairytale horse Sold For Song at Flemington in 2017 and almost won the Group 2 Gilgai at knockout odds for larrikin trainer Kevin Kemp.

While he went down as the underdog on that occasion, Orman knows there will be no flying under the radar with Antino next month.

"I ran second in the Gilgai on Sold For Song at about 100-1," Orman laughed.

"You'd say this bloke would be favourite, he is second favourite for the Toorak, so that's saying a bit."

It marks the start of a huge spring for Orman, who will also ride Far Too Easy in the $2m Kosciuszko on October 14 at Randwick.

It creates a collision course for Orman, with the Group 1 Toorak Handicap run on the same day in Melbourne.

Far Too Easy comes off a huge run in the Ramorine Handicap, where he was a good thing beaten due to his wide barrier.

Orman came second on the horse a year ago and says he is determined to go one better this time around.

"The wide barrier beat him the other day in the Ramorine, if they ran quicker he would have been sweet," he said.

"We got $400,000 to run second in the race last year, we want the bigger cheque this time around."

Far Too Easy is an equal $4.50 favourite for the Kosciuszko.