Antino returning as good or better

By Danny Matthews and Brad Bishop

A Tuesday morning trial at Deagon will have an unusually strong line-up of Queensland's best talent.

It will be highlighted by Antino's first public outing towards the Sydney's autumn carnival.

Tony Gollan left no stone unturned in finding answers to why the seven-year-old finished last, beaten by nearly eight lengths, in the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last October, but he is confident the gelding is back as good as he was this time last year.

"I'm very happy with him," Gollan said.

"I did bone scans and had all sorts of tests done, x-rayed all his joints everywhere and there was nothing that we didn't know.

"He's got a bit of wear and tear but there are no significant injuries. He seems as good or better than where he was last year."

Gollan is eyeing a traditional path towards the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 11 with the likely campaign to kick-off in Sydney on February 14.

Antino is slotted in trial three over 1050 metres along with Zarastro who took out the Magic Millions Snippets in January of 2025.       

"It will be a soft trial," Gollan said.

"He'll be at the back and probably won't trouble the scorer just following them around.

"Then he'll have another one a couple of weeks later and then hopefully head to Sydney for his first-up run."

Antino is rated an $11 chance for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Sir Delius the $3 favourite.

"Taking out the Cox Plate run, his elite level form was up there in the spring," Gollan added.

"If I want to drop the bar or space him out, I can look at saving him for the Doomben Cup, as well."

Antino took out the Group 1 Doomben Cup in emphatic style in May last year.