Lack of Due Diligence Works for Antino Connections

Trainer Tony Gollan has made little secret of the high-regard in which he holds progressive galloper Antino (Redwood-Mahamaya, by Bahhare), reports NZ Racing Desk. He has hardly put a foot wrong as he steps through his grades and made short-work of his seasoned rivals in the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m) last Saturday at Eagle Farm. Now enjoying a well-deserved break, Gollan said the sky is the limit for the New Zealand-bred gelding. Antino was bred by Hong Kong-based George Kit Ma's Blossom Trading & Breeding Company Ltd. "Antino was physically the best horse Mr Ma had bred. We never sent him to the yearling sales. We retained him and were tossing up whether we took him to the Ready to Run Sale or trialled him with the aim of getting him into the Asian market," Blossom Trading & Breeding's Logan Salvador said. They had opted for the Ready to Run Sale where, bidding online that day, was Hong Kong-based racehorse owner Jeetu Ramchandani. "I ended up purchasing the horse for $27,000. I had done zero due diligence. It sounds ridiculous, but if you look at it now, it is probably the best thing that happened," said Ramchandani. After his successful online bid, Ramchandani sent 2YO Antino to Mark Schmetzer at Scone to be pre-trained before he went to Adam Campton who had recently returned from Hong Kong and set-up training at the Gold Coast. A winner on debut for Campton, after a lengthy spell Antino joined the stable of Champion Queensland trainer Gollan and has continued to go from strength to strength.

Antino nails his first stakes race (pic: Grant Peters)