Group 1 champion Antino showing class in post-racing life

By Andrew Smith

Tony and Jane Gollan are used to all eyes being on their horses on the track, but it was the Ekka’s Main Arena where a former stable star was receiving all the attention on Monday.

Multiple Group 1 winner Antino took his first steps in his post-racing career at the Royal Queensland Show’s traditional Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day.

The two-time Queensland Horse of the Year was led around by Jane in the Best Presented Horse and Handler class.

The son of Redwood also competed in the category of Gelding, 3 Years Old and Over – that has started a race this calendar year.

Antino finished second in that class behind another Group winner in the Tony and Maddy Sears-trained Yellow Brick.

The former galloper had been looking on track to defend his 2025 Doomben Cup crown at this year’s Queensland Racing Carnival.

Sadly, the Gollan stable was forced to retire Antino after he suffered a tendon injury during a fourth-place finish in the Listed Brisbane Handicap in April.

Tony was beaming with pride as he watched his former champion from the viewing area next to the show ring on Monday morning.

“Seeing him in a different discipline, it's great to see him like this,” Tony said.

“The guys who got him ready - Letitia at Embrook Stables, and then Phil Bobic and all the crew that have got him ready for the Ekka - they've done a great job.

“He looks beautiful, as do all the horses out here, and it's been a great morning on Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day.”

Antino started 33 times for Gollan, claiming 13 victories and just under $3.5 million in prizemoney.

Five Group victories included the dominant win in the 2024 Group 1 Toorak Handicap, the 2025 Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes, and the stirring 2025 Doomben Cup victory.

Having trained superstars such as Vega One, Temple Of Boom, Spirit Of Boom, Krone and Skirt The Law, Gollan rated Antino above them all as the best horse he had trained when his retirement was confirmed in May.

The master trainer said his former stable star would enjoy the attention that came with his new post-racing life.

“He'll go into this sort of discipline, into the showing, something like that,” Tony said.

“He loves being fussed upon, he loves being in the box and having people brush him and play around with him.

“He's so used to it – the elite horses go away and travel with grooms and get so much one-on-one attention, they absolutely love this sort of life.

“(Retrainer) Amy Taylor might be taking him after this – Jane is organising all of that, and he'll go into some form of equestrian discipline.”

Jane echoed the sentiment of husband Tony while reflecting on the special spot Antino holds in the family’s heart.

The retired thoroughbred is due to start training under saddle in the coming weeks.

“He's professional and absolutely loves getting doted on, and it's almost like he has already adjusted to the new discipline,” Jane said.

“He’s been such a special horse to us, the stable staff, the owners, Racing Queensland, the whole of the industry really.

“I think it's very important to ensure that they've got a plan mapped out for them after racing.”

Over $25,000 was on offer across 18 ‘Led’ and ‘Under Saddle’ classes at this year’s Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day.

Both Tony and Jane agreed the race day-style event was an outstanding opportunity to showcase what racehorses are capable of in their second careers post-racing.

“They come in all different shapes and sizes and looks and colours, and I think that so many of the public wouldn’t be aware that what they can do post racing,” Jane said.

“It's a bit of fun for the handler to dress up as well, and it’s obviously getting bigger and better every year.”

Tony added: “We only have them for a small portion of their life – we get that part of their career, and then the rest of their life, they've got so much else to offer.

“Whether it’s another young person in an equestrian pursuit, or whether it’s showing - there's so much more these beautiful animals can do, and it's just great to see so many of them here.

“People put so much time into an event like this, and it’s just great to see all the horses looking so beautiful.”

Click here for the full results from the Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day.