Gollan’s highest praise reserved for Antino as retirement confirmed

By Jordan Gerrans and Andrew Smith

Just days after multiple Group 1 champion Antino’s retirement, Tony Gollan has revealed he regards the striking gelding as the best horse he has ever prepared in his illustrious career. 

With the 2026 edition of the A.D. Hollindale Stakes to be run this Saturday at the Gold Coast, Antino was set to return to the venue and defend the crown he claimed over 1800 metres this time last year. 

The Hollindale was supposed to be just an entrée towards the Group 1 Doomben Cup, where the son of Redwood would also be the reigning champion of the prestigious race. 

All those plans went out the window after the Listed Brisbane Handicap last month when Antino finished fourth and, in the process, suffered a tendon injury.

Gollan has prepared a glut of star horses over the years, including Vega One, Temple Of Boom, Spirit Of Boom, Krone and Skirt The Law, among others. 

But, he says Antino is at the top of the tree. 

“For the last few years I have said that I think he's the best horse I've trained,” Gollan said.

“And, I've trained some really nice horses.

“That doesn't mean that they weren't good. 

"It just means that he had this ability that others didn’t have. I haven't ever trained a horse that could sustain a gallop like he could.

“When we've seen him at his best, that's what he did. That's how he won his races. He wasn't the fastest horse I've ever trained.

“But, he could sustain a gallop longer than any other horse I've trained.

“I guess that takes a bit out of a horse over a period of time, as well. But, when he was on, he was the absolute best I've trained.

“For me, his best win and the whole process that went into it, that was the Doomben Cup.”

As Gollan notes, when Antino was at his peak – he was devastating.

He was well-known as a star in the Sunshine State in the early days, but he rose to prominence on a national level in the 2024 Group 1 Toorak Handicap.

On that occasion, hoop Blake Shinn looped the field down the side of the Caulfield track which led to a winning margin of more than six lengths. 

Antino won that elite-level race in October of 2024 before heading home for his local winter carnival and romped in to claim the Group 1 Doomben Cup by almost four lengths in similarly eye-catching fashion. 

For his unique racing attributes, he became a popular galloper. 

“For me, I've just been overwhelmed and so have the owners with the outpouring from everyone and their well wishes and the thoughts about the horse,” Gollan said.

“So many people have said what they thought about the horse's racing career.

“It’s been amazing how many different areas and different sorts of people that he actually touched with the way that he raced and the ability he had.

“That is not just us, but for everyone. So, we'll miss him.

“But, so will a lot of the racing community.”

The premier Brisbane trainer said it was not a tough call in the end to retire Antino on the eve of the 2026 Queensland Racing Carnival.

Gollan knew that the injury he had sustained in the Brisbane Handicap was one that was likely going to see his racing days come to an end.

In his last run of his 33-start career, Antino finished a credible fourth at Listed level as he was beaten a touch over two lengths as he carried 61kg.

Antino yielded 13 victories (five at Group level) from 33 starts and he won a little less than $3.5 million in prizemoney.

The Gollan stable – and wider family through Tony’s wife Jane – take great pride in finding forever homes for their horses following their racing careers and that is the next step for Antino.

“Our job now is to rehabilitate him, get that leg 100% right,” Gollan said.

“He's not unsound. He's a sound horse. He's just damaged the tendon.

“So, we'll give him the care that he needs and then we'll look for a home after racing.

“As we know, racing is only a small part of their journey.

“The next part of the journey is for him to find a lovely home where he'll be looked after and doted on.”

With the number one seed from his stable retired on the eve of the carnival, Gollan has earmarked Transatlantic as his best hope to snare a breakthrough Stradbroke Handicap later this year.

He also has high hopes for Zarastro through the carnival as well as Rockribbed and Boomtown Boss.

Gollan also noted he believes he has a strong crop of babies coming through the ranks, headlined by Boomelli who won the Listed Calaway Gal last month.

“He's my Stradbroke horse,” Gollan said of Transatlantic.

“He was last year, but I had to really go on an unusual route to get him there.

“I had to try and win his way in. This year he will get in with his rating.

“It's just a matter of getting him there 100% on the day with a preparation tailor-made for the Stradbroke. I'm positive I can do that.”