Tony Gollan last-ditch bid to get Antino in Stradbroke Handicap
Antino could run in next week’s Kingsford-Smith Cup after missing a start in the BRC Sprint on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography.
Champion trainer Tony Gollan won't give his Stradbroke Handicap dreams up without a fight, revealing connections will stump up the $25,500 late entry fee for Antino to get into next weekend's Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup in the search of a dramatic ratings boost.
Antino missed a run in Saturday's Group 3 BRC Sprint due to his rating of 90, leaving Gollan light on options to get him into Queensland's biggest race, but the Eagle Farm trainer said he wants to exhaust all of his options before giving up on the dream.
Once considered one of the favourites for the Stradbroke, Antino is now rated a $26 chance by bookmakers given his difficult road into the race, but Gollan said he will go down swinging.
"We will put a late nom in for him in the Group 1," Gollan said.
"There is a Class 6 1400m on the same day if he can't get into the Kingsford-Smith.
"There is the Listed Spear Chief (1500m) a week later too, so it'd be anyone of those three options – probably in that order.
"You don't have to pay the fee if you don't make the field in the Kingsford-Smith and if you run in the top five you get your money back."
Tony Gollan will attempt a last-ditch effort to get Antino into the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography
Antino was immediately kept safe by bookmakers, installing him a $15 chance for next Saturday's Group 1 feature where Joe Pride's Think About It is a $4.50 favourite ahead of local hope Rothfire ($6).
Gollan conceded he is throwing Antino into the deep end meeting battle-hardened Group 1 horses at weight-for-age level, but says he has been taken aback by his stable star ever since he arrived.
Saturday shapes as a huge day for Gollan, who is looking to get spruik horse Golden Boom's career back on track in the Listed Darby McCarthy (1100m).
After drawing barrier one, the three-year-old was well supported in betting, and is a dominant $2.40 favourite.
"I could have gone to the Gold Coast Guineas the other day with him, but I thought off his first-up run where he was three-deep no cover off a solid speed, I felt it was better to go this way," Gollan said.
"He has a month between runs and a barrier trial in between, he has improved sharply and I am really happy with him going into Saturday."
