Tony Gollan happy to leave Antino tactics up to jockey Blake Shinn in Hollindale Stakes

Tony Gollan is concerned about a lack of speed for Antino in the Hollindale Stakes and will keep his tactical options open with jockey Blake Shinn.

“If we wanted to be a little bit adventurous, we could be.”

So says champion Queensland trainer Tony Gollan about stable star Antino as he prepares for the Hollindale Stakes which he feels could be missing genuine tempo without free-rolling Pride Of Jenni.

Many initially thought Pride Of Jenni would contest the Hollindale – but that was before Ciaron Maher pulled a rabbit out of his hat and instead decided to race at Caulfield last week.

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The pride of Queensland, Gollan’s Group 1 star Antino, and the pride of Victoria, three-time Group 1-winning freak Pride Of Jenni, remain on a probable collision course in the Group 1 Doomben Cup in a fortnight.

However, Jenni won’t be there to bowl along up front in the Hollindale on the Gold Coast on Saturday and that has Gollan and jockey Blake Shinn pondering their options.

Antino has been noted at times for being slow away but second-up last spring, he jumped away well and landed second in running in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington which was won by Mr Brightside.

The Hollindale is over 1800m and Gollan certainly isn’t ruling out Antino being much closer in the run than many might expect.

Stable star Antino had his main piece of work this morning at Eagle Farm ahead of Saturday’s Group 2 Hollindale Stakes 1800m at @GCTurfClub.

We mic’d up rider @bnothdurft14 to take you along for the ride.

"He’s ready to rock’n roll”!@RaceQLD@[e-mail]/BEW30m1AtG

— Gollan Racing (@tonygollan) May 6, 2025

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“Pride Of Jenni would have certainly added some genuine tempo to the race, that’s one thing the race is lacking a bit of,” Gollan said.

“If we wanted to be a little bit adventurous, we could be.

“The tactics that Blake Shinn wants to use will be interesting.

“Whether he will sit back on him, whether he tries to be closer?

“It all depends on how he steps away.

“Antino has in the past sprung the lids and been right there.

“I don’t think he has to be right back in the race, especially getting out to 1800 (m).

“We will have seen plenty of races by that time to know how the track is playing.

“There’s no reason that if he was to step away that he couldn’t be forward in the race, if we wanted to do that.”

Antino and Blake Shinn winning the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield last year. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Antino came up with barrier 11 of 14 on Wednesday but that doesn’t perturb Gollan one bit.

In fact, he is happy with the barrier – insisting quirky galloper Antino enjoys racing on the outside of horses rather than on the inside.

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On Friday, Antino was rated a $7 chance in the Hollindale in a betting market which has the Chris Waller pair of Buckaroo ($3.80) and Lindermann ($5) as the leading seeds.

Antino was a pass mark when resuming over 1400m in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes over 1400m at Randwick – beaten five lengths by Jimmysstar.

Gollan insists Antino needs a strong hitout in the Hollindale to keep him on track for the Doomben Cup where he is currently an $11 chance in a market topped by Pride Of Jenni ($3.50).

Many months ago, Gollan set in stone a Doomben Cup path for Antino.

Antino does hold a Stradbroke Handicap nomination so there is still the option to change his program, depending how he performs on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

“It’s an important run for him,” Gollan said, of Antino’s Hollindale bid.

Originally published as Tony Gollan happy to leave Antino tactics up to jockey Blake Shinn in Hollindale Stakes