There will be cheers all round if Antino or Pride Of Jenni wins Group 1 Doomben Cup

It will be state versus state and mate against mate when Antino and Pride Of Jenni line in the Group 1 Doomben Cup, and the BRC will shout the bar if either horse wins.

State versus state and mate versus mate is a theme you normally hear at State of Origin time.

But racing will have its own version with Queensland freak Antino going head to head with Victorian superstar and last year’s Australian horse of the year Pride Of Jenni in Saturday week’s Group 1 Doomben Cup.

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Champion trainers Tony Gollan and Ciaron Maher are great mates and Pride Of Jenni is likely to be stabled near Antino in Gollan’s Eagle Farm stables when she arrives early next week.

And now there is also another reason for Queenslanders to get to Doomben to watch the equine superstars go at it.

Just like the Melbourne Racing Club has previously done, the Brisbane Racing Club will shout the bar if favourite Pride Of Jenni scoots to victory in the Doomben Cup.

But there’s a fresh twist – with the BRC also shouting the bar if local hero and recent Hollindale Stakes champion Antino races to glory.

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“Antino’s outstanding win in the Hollindale Stakes has generated enormous excitement ahead of the Doomben Cup on Saturday week,” BRC chief executive Karl deKroo said.

“It sets up an epic clash between Antino, who as the state’s reigning Horse of the Year is really the pride of Queensland, and one of the nation’s most popular horses in Pride Of Jenni.

“We’re thrilled to work with our great partners at XXXX to bring a bit of added fun to Doomben Cup Day and if either Antino or Pride Of Jenni wins, every adult on course will receive a free XXXX on us.

“It is a uniquely Queensland way to celebrate what should be an epic Doomben Cup and it is even more fitting given the great friendship between trainers Tony Gollan and Ciaron Maher.

“Both are exceptional horsemen and both love a beer.”

Champion trainer Tony Gollan with his star horse Antino ahead of next week’s showdown with Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Doomben Cup, where the Brisbane Racing Club will shout a free XXXX if either wins. Picture: Michael McInally

There will also be an opportunity for racegoers on Doomben Cup day to win 20 tickets to a private suite at the Brisbane Broncos v Dolphins NRL game August 16.

After a daring ride from Blake Shinn to win the Hollindale on the Gold Coast last Saturday, Antino is the second favourite to claim the Doomben Cup and score his second career Group 1.

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Gollan said it was great that racing officials were going all-out to promote the clash between his stable star and Pride Of Jenni.

“It’s a fantastic promotion and a great initiative, everyone likes a free beer don’t they, cheap is good but free is better,” Gollan said.

“It is going to be a great race and a great spectacle, every race Pride Of Jenni is in she runs them along and makes it a real race.

“Hopefully Antino can pick the bridle up from a way out and get chasing her and hopefully it’s a really good spectacle.”

Originally published as There will be cheers all round if Antino or Pride Of Jenni wins Group 1 Doomben Cup