Antino set for Hong Kong problem

The Tony Gollan educated Antino is all set to hold the hopes of Australia (typically) and Queensland (particularly) into the $HK36 million Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on December 8.

The Redwood gelding has already ticked a large field on this task plan by constructing kind momentum in no unsure phrases in current begins to verify that he’s prepared for a world task and completely deserving of the chance.

“He has gone to a brand new stage this Spring. I by no means had any doubts he would do this … only a little bit of frustration alongside the way in which,” stated Gollan.

“His world rankings will let you know now how he has gone to a brand new stage. I’m simply very pleased with what the horse has been doing.”

The six-year-old has had 5 begins this season, 4 of them in Group 1 firm (when by no means ending additional again than fourth place) with the Toorak Handicap win over 1600m, in his penultimate begin at Caulfield on October 12, giving Antino his first style of success on the elite stage.

Final Saturday, 4 weeks after that Group 1 breakthrough win, Antino as soon as once more confirmed simply how effectively he’s doing inside himself with a close-up, runner-up end behind Mr Brightside within the Group 1 Cantala Stakes over 1600m at Flemington.

That progress … after which sustaining such a excessive stage of efficiency at this very important stage means the primary section of a three-part trick has been efficiently negotiated.

A horse going to Hong Kong must be effectively … and doing effectively … earlier than making the journey if he’s to have any probability of success.

Half two of the three-part trick is now in play.

The hole of 4 weeks in-between runs clearly had Antino thriving final day trip … and it is going to be one other deliberate four-week hole between runs earlier than Antino faces the starter at Sha Tin.

The emphasis now could be extra about retaining Antino completely satisfied and wholesome within the lead-up to the journey, in transit itself … after which in the course of the settling in interval in Hong Kong, which is positioned simply shy of 7000km from his house base in Brisbane.

“The preparations are going precisely as I’d have needed. He’s as match as you will get him. I can’t get him any fitter, so we haven’t bought an entire lot to do with him between now and Hong Kong.

“The 4 weeks in-between runs confirmed me I can maintain him at that stage, notably spacing his runs … and I’m very assured that we will maintain him at that stage over 4 weeks once more going into the Hong Kong Mile.

“Protecting him as completely satisfied as he has been, is the purpose now.

The third a part of the three-part trick clearly comes all the way down to Antino’s efficiency on the day in what’s more likely to be a star-studded lineup provided that the entry listing in late October (with horses from ten international locations) featured sixteen Group 1 winners.

That may stay an unknown till the race will get underway.

Antino likes to dawdle out of the gates, so, in reality, it might be a shock if he doesn’t, however he actually has negated a lot of that supposed drawback on the soar by being completely satisfied to settle into his rhythm in his personal time after which end off the race effectively … and Blake Shinn, who has ridden Antino in three of his final 4 begins (together with the Toorak win) will know precisely the right way to get the most effective out of his mount.

In Might 2016 a horse known as Chautauqua dawdled out of the gates within the Chairman’s Dash in Hong Kong, settling into stride some three lengths behind the second final runner.

The remainder, as they are saying, is historical past with Chautauque scoring a win that was as rousing as any last-to-first win may be.

The pace was well-and-truly on that day which helped Chautauqua get house excessive of his opposition.

Antino would possibly want his race to be run similarly for him to be handiest and the roar can be simply as huge because it was that day if Antino does get the job completed in related, scintillating trend.

“Hong Kong has at all times been the long-range plan, which is why, after the Toorak I wasn’t tempted by every other race, aside from ready for the Champion’s Mile at Flemington … and now I’m ready for the Hong Kong Worldwide Mile,” stated Gollan.

“We’re very excited proper now about having our first worldwide runner, however I’ll be happier after we get there, and all the pieces is in good order.

“If we get him there in good condition, I’m positive he’ll do us proud.”

 

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