Antino gets final Hong Kong vaccinations after going down to Mr Brightside in Champions Mile

Tony Gollan couldn’t be more proud of Antino after narrowly going down to Mr Brightside in Saturday’s Champions Mile at Flemington – now he is hoping he can become his first international runner at Sha Tin in a month’s time.

Champions Mile runner up Antino received his final vaccinations to race overseas on Sunday morning, paving the way for an assault on the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile next month.

Trainer Tony Gollan confirmed connections would this week meet to make the final decision on whether to send his stable star, who pulled up well for his run at Flemington on Saturday, to the super rich meeting on December 8 at Sha Tin.

Gollan has won countless races around Australia but has never had an international runner and admits he is keen to try his luck in Hong Kong. However, any trip away would all but rule out an autumn campaign for Antino.

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“We will monitor him for the next few days and see how it shapes up,” Gollan said.

“He had his final vaccination today, we will have a chat this week to see what it looks like.

“It will either be Hong Kong or rest up and go to the autumn in Australia, we are looking to go to Hong Kong but.

“If we go to Hong Kong, you don’t get back to Australia until the 23rd of December, then you do quarantine for a few weeks, so you basically rule yourself out of the autumn.”

Antino (right) was only narrowly beaten by Mr Brightside. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images.

• Rocky horse giving rivals Hell in town

The Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner defeated all but freak galloper Mr Brightside in the $3m feature on Saturday, with Gollan saying Antino deserved his place among Australia’s best milers.

Bookmakers moved Antino into $5 favouritism for the $A6.8m Hong Kong Mile following his slashing second placing on Saturday.

“He pulled up the exact same he did after his last start in the Toorak, he was very good after the race straight away,” Gollan said.

“It is what it is, the winner got a slightly better run than us, but (Mr Brightside) is a champion horse.

“He is a bloody good horse, to have the amount of racing he’s had this prep and finish off like that, he’s a champion.”

WHAT A SUPERSTAR!! Mr Brightside with a stunning victory in the $3 million Champions Mile. Craig Williams with a peach of a ride.

🎥 @wwos | #StakesDay | #MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/GKWIoOZp2z

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 9, 2024

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Should he go to Hong Kong, Antino would fly out of Melbourne in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Gollan confirmed his Five Diamonds runner-up Freedom Rally would head to the paddock after a long campaign.

Connections toyed with the idea of running in The Gong in a fortnight’s time, however will instead aim up for the autumn after collecting almost $400,000 in prizemoney on Saturday.