ANTINO'S QUITE BRILLIANT DOOMBEN CUP SUCCESS
By Graham Potter | Sunday, May 25, 2025
The extraordinary win in the Group 1 Doomben Cup was the arguably the defining moment in the career of,what we would now justifiably call, the champion racehorse Antino.
His champion trainer Tony Gollan knew a long time ago just how good Antino was, labelling him a long way out as the best horse he has trained… which is saying something. Not only did Gollan make that early call but, such was the depth of the impression that Antino had made on him, that he never wavered once in his rating of the horse, even when Antino hit a few speedbumps along the way.
And, boy, how Antino has repaid the faith and confidence shown in him.
His winning performance in the Doomben Cup was nothing short of remarkable.
Coming from twelve lengths back at the 800m, as his supposed main rival Pride Of Jenni followed her expected script by scorching away in front, Shinn only started sending Antino forward in the middle of the sweep to the home turn.
From ground level, that forward move … made all of four wide … looked like Antino had been slingshot into the race. A higher view showed that while Antino did enjoy a rapid rate of progress, there was no rush, no stress involved.
It beggar’s belief how he could stroll past so many well performed runners seemingly with the minimum of fuss but, apart from the initial squeeze to get Antino to lengthen his stride, Shinn wasn’t urging him on. He was guiding him. Antino seemed to know exactly what was required of him.
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