Tony Gollan‘s local champ, Antino, has firmed into second favouritism behind the mighty mare Pride Of Jenni in all-in markets on the Group 1 Doomben Cup after his stellar 3.5 length upset in Saturday’s 2025 A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast.

The six-year-old son of Redwood went around at an underrated quote of $9 in this year’s Group 2 $500,000 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and relished the Heavy (9) track to destroy his rivals in the WFA showdown.

“I’m just so thrilled today. It means a lot this win today,” Gollan told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

It was a brilliant return to winning form for last year’s Toorak Handicap champ after his Hong Kong Mile disappointment last December and his somewhat flat return to racing down under when 11th last time out in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) in Sydney.

“Nothing really worked out for us on that occasion,” Gollan said of Antino’s All Aged run.

“We were always going to come here, and I guess the last three weeks I was second guessing was I doing the right thing, but everything indicated we were on the right track.”

Having his first look at the Gold Coast track, the mudlark swam through the Heavy going with Blake Shinn in the saddle and Antino enjoying the step-up in distance to add to his imposing second-up record.

Shinn gave the eventual winner a masterful ride coming from fourth at the turn for home to let down at the top of the straight, dashing to the lead and racing away from the field to win.

On the line he had a big margin to spare over the long-priced runner-up Fawkner Park ($19), third in last year’s Doomben Cup trifecta, for the Neasham/Archibald yard.

In third also at a double-figure quote was the Chris Waller trained Kovalica ($14), while consistent Russian Revolution mare Miss Joelene ($51) rounded out the First Four at any old price.

It looks all systems go now for Antino into the Group 1 $1 million Ladbrokes Doomben Cup (2000m) in Brisbane on May 24 with the horse at $4 to win behind Pride Of Jenni ($3.60).

“I’m just so looking forward to the Doomben Cup now in two weeks,” Gollan said.

“This is the first preparation I’ve ever really trained him to get out over ground.

“His pedigree says that this sort of trip and further will suit him.”

Zaaki (2021) was the last horse to complete the Hollindale / Doomben Cup double.

Pride Of Jenni also returned to the winner’s stall at Caulfield on Saturday carrying 61kg to a big 2.25 length win in the Anniversary Vase (1600m).

2025 A.D. Hollindale Stakes Results

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