Antino repays trainer Tony Gollan’s faith with Group 1 Toorak Handicap romp at Caulfield

Queensland galloper Antino found redemption in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap with a spectacular performance at Caulfield.

Antino won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap in a one-act affair. Picture: Michael Klein

Questions abounded after the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.

What was the most spectacular facet of the Toorak Handicap?

Was it Blake Shinn’s ride or Antino’s superb combination of acceleration and ability to sustain a long run at top speed?

• What the jockeys said: 2024 Toorak Handicap

It probably didn’t matter to Queensland trainer Tony Gollan, who had the luxury of watching his stable star cruise to an emphatic 6½-length win over Craig ($10) and Alsephina ($19).

“You know, we just trusted the horse,” Shinn said.

“He stepped a bit slow but I just rode him conservative and brought him into the race when I felt the speed was slackening a bit.

“And god, he was strong to the line.”

BLAKE SHINN, WHAT A RIDE! 😱

ANTINO LOOPS THE FIELD AND DESTROYS THEM IN THE TOORAK! @[e-mail]/ihAlzKrkSj

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 12, 2024

Gollan also had the enjoyment of erasing the memories of Antino’s narrow defeat to Attrition in last year’s edition of the $1m feature.

Gollan gave Antino a tough grounding in the Toorak Handicap, sending the six-year-old into battle with the likes of Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside in all three runs this time in.

Antino finished only 2¼ lengths from Pride Of Jenni after chasing for a long way in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley on September 27 but there were no rivals of that class in the Toorak Handicap.

Antino’s rivals were the ones doing the chasing from a long way out as Blake’s lightning move sent the son of Redwood from last to first in the space of 100m.

Antino hit the front on the home turn before Shinn guided his mount back to the superior ground nearer the inside rail at the 300m, giving his opposition no chance to run him down.

Tony Gollan celebrates the win with Blake Shinn. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

“This year I knew I had him, as good as we’ve ever had him and it was just a matter of luck on the day and he took that into his own hands and got the job done,” Gollan said.

“The first thing we said after Moonee Valley the other night when we were racing against Pride of Jenni (was that) he can sustain and build pressure in a race.

“No matter where we landed today, we just wanted to travel and then be able to use that long sustained run and that’s what he did.

“We took off a bit early on him but he can sustain a good gallop for a good while, what a dominant display.”

Antino’s triumph left Gollan and connections with a choice of heading to Flemington for the Group 1 Champions Mile on the way to a possible tilt at international competition in the Hong Kong Mile in December.

SIX OF THE BEST FOR BLAKE

Adelaide filly Kuroyanagi continued a brilliant run for jockey Blake Shinn in the Thoroughbred Club of Australia Plate (1200m).

Shinn’s win on the three-year-old was his sixth win in a row in a streak that started in the last race in Sydney last Saturday before taking in Sale, Mornington and Cranbourne meetings during the week.

Kuroyanagi ($4.40), named after a Japanese actress, held off the charging Chewing Gum to post her second win in six starts.

Co-trainer Niki O’Shea, who trains Kuroyanagi in partnership with Will Clarken, said the seven-week break between runs stood Kuroyanagi in good stead for her latest test.

“We didn’t have to rush her, we gave her a good break between her last one and left her comfortable and she looked fantastic today,” O’Shea said.

Kuroyanagi back to her best! 👏@Clarken_Racing@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/aUMmkobxhP

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 12, 2024

AIRBORNE AVIATRESS

Aviatress flew away from her opposition in the straight to win the Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield from A Little Deep and Bizot.

The win aboard the South Australian Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained mare sealed an early double for champion jockey Craig Williams after success on Extreme Virtue in Race 1 for Lindsay Park.

Aviatress could head to a 1400m race on Melbourne Cup Day next.

Aviatress storms away form them in the Northwood Plume Stakes! 💨 @CWilliamsJockey picks up an early double to start the day!@RJollyRacingpic.twitter.com/YWukxUZ6aq

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 12, 2024

JIMMY THE STAR

Jimmysstar justified the short quote with a powerful performance in the Listed Weekend Hussler (1400m) and put the race beyond doubt a long way from home.

Champion jockey Blake Shinn rated the favourite beautifully wide with cover midfield off the speed and took over inside the last 200m to seal a double and his 2000th career winner.

“We just let him balance up, relax, just trusted that his turn of foot was better than them as he won a great race last start over 1100 (metres),” Shinn said.

“We didn’t over-complicate it, and he did the rest. My fourth win on him now, and I just love him.”

Jimmysstar firmed $6 into $3.20 with Ladbrokes for the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) in November.

Jimmysstar dominant in the Weekend Hussler! 😤

That brings up 2,000 career winners for Blake Shinn! 👏@[e-mail]/pO156RP6wo

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 12, 2024

Originally published as Antino repays trainer Tony Gollan’s faith with Group 1 Toorak Handicap romp at Caulfield