Saturday preview: Can Antino go from a Hollindale hero to a Doomben Cup king?

Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography

Antino carries Queensland hopes in the Doomben Cup

The pride of Queensland, Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), looks extremely hard to beat in what shapes as one of the strongest editions in recent memory of the $1 million G1 Doomben Cup, run at weight-for-age level over 2000 metres.

Powerhouse stables are well represented, with the likes of Chris Waller, Ciaron Maher, John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott joining Tony Gollan and fellow Queenslander Kelly Schweida, who saddles up the talented Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution).

Gollan was keen to downplay the notion that this is a match race between the two headline acts, Antino and Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), despite the bulk of the pre-race attention and betting focus being squarely on them. The Brisbane Racing Club has even jumped on the bandwagon, offering a free beer to every adult on-course should either of the two favourites win, mirroring recent Melbourne promotions around Pride Of Jenni.

“It’s certainly not a two-horse race,” Gollan told media earlier in the week.

“We are well aware there are many chances, and it's probably as strong a Doomben Cup as we have seen for some time. It is a hell of a deep Doomben Cup.

“I don't think I have seen a Doomben Cup for some time with so many chances in it, and it will be such a good betting race.”

Antino has been a revelation, having campaigned predominantly as a sprinter-miler throughout his career. But Gollan’s plan to stretch him to a middle-distance trip is now bearing fruit. His win in the G2 Hollindale Stakes over 1800 metres was emphatic, giving every indication that the 2000 metres of the Doomben Cup is well within reach.

As a son of Redwood (GB) and a proven strong miler, the pedigree and performance suggest he’ll handle the rise in distance. While Gollan deserves credit for the strategic placement, Antino’s regular jockey Blake Shinn deflected any praise for the move.

“That was all Tony’s idea,” Shinn told media.

“Antino always gave me an impression he would be fine over 2000 metres. He settles well enough to try it. But that was all Tony’s idea and I left that decision up to him.”

Shinn has the utmost faith in Antino, and when asked what the key has been to his standout rides, particularly in the G1 Toorak Handicap and the G2 Hollindale Stakes - he credited the horse’s natural ability.

“His engine allows me to do what I do on him, he’s got a huge motor. He’s just got great aerobic capacity.”

Backing Gollan’s assertion that the Cup is far from a foregone conclusion is the recent history of the race. Bois D'Argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), who returns this year in an attempt to go back-to-back, caused a boilover in 2024, while Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) won at double-figure odds in both 2022 and 2023 when he did the double.

So, will Antino deliver for Queensland? Will Pride Of Jenni roll them from the front yet again? Or will the Doomben Cup follow recent tradition and deliver another upset?.

Either way, with a high-class field and genuine depth, Saturday’s Group 1 contest promises to be a compelling watch.

Is the Doomben Cup crucial to Pride Of Dubai’s Premiership hopes?

The race for stallion Premiership honours has been one of the season’s most compelling narratives - and now, as we head towards the pointy end of the year, the pressure is on.

Pride Of Dubai burst out of the blocks early, building a commanding lead on the back of elite mares like Bella Nipotina, hero of The Everest, and the tenacious Pride Of Jenni. But hot on his heels, Zoustar has steadily reeled him in, and as of Friday morning, holds a $435,910 lead at the top of the table. Pride Of Dubai remains comfortably clear of Snitzel in third, who trails by just over $1.5 million.

This leads to the following question: Is Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 Doomben Cup - offering $600,000 to the winner, the potential turning point, and essential in Pride Of Dubai’s premiership chase?

He’s got his star player engaged in the cup, with Pride Of Jenni lining up for trainer Ciaron Maher. The gutsy mare, already a winner of just over $10.4 million, looks primed for another major payday after bouncing back to form last start with a dominant Listed win at Caulfield, scoring by just over 2 lengths.

Now set for her first Queensland assignment, Pride Of Jenni will again be partnered by Craig Newitt and shapes as a genuine winning hope in a competitive field.

Pride Of Dubai, who stands at Coolmore Stud, has sired 315 individual winners with collective earnings of over $82 million. His resume includes 23 stakes winners and 18 stakes placegetters, highlighted by five individual Group 1 winners: Pride Of Jenni, Bella Nipotina, Dubai Honour (IRE), Desert Lightning (NZ), and Deny Knowledge (IRE).

The stallion premiership may not be decided in late May, with lucrative targets still to come, especially at Saturday metropolitan meetings, but there’s no denying the importance of this weekend’s Doomben Cup. A victory for Pride Of Jenni could provide the decisive boost her sire needs to reclaim the lead and stay in the hunt for Champion Stallion honours for the 2024/25 season even if at this stage the job may potentially be beyond him.

Benagil to bloom in ‘The Roses’ as the Queensland Oaks beckons

The G2 Doomben Roses has long served as the key lead-up race for 3-year-old fillies targeting Group 1 glory in the Queensland Oaks, held two weeks later at Eagle Farm. It’s traditionally a melting pot, pitting emerging talent against seasoned fillies looking to hold form and peak again.

Among the most seasoned and favoured is Benagil (Manhattan Rain), winner of the G1 Australasian Oaks, who has handled an ambitious campaign across four states with remarkable poise. She now lines up in The G2 Doomben Roses as a major Oaks contender and clear benchmark for Saturday’s field.

Benagil has had an extremely successful preparation as a autumn 3-year-old filly. After resuming with a midfield finish in the G2 Armanasco Stakes behind star filly Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express), she bounced back to win the $500,000 VOBIS Guineas at Caulfield. She then finished a brave second in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill behind Treasurethe Moment again, before delivering a career-best performance to capture the G1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville.

Trainer Glen Thompson reported to media this week that Benagil is thriving despite the demanding travel schedule.

“She’s in great shape and I was pleased with her jump-out last Thursday here in Melbourne,” Thompson said.

“She’s 575kgs and has thrived on racing and has settled in well since arriving in Queensland.

“I’ve never seen a horse like her and it’s going to take a good one to beat her.”

While Thompson has yet to lock in spring plans, he confirmed the filly will head to the G1 Queensland Oaks following Saturday’s run, before enjoying a well-earned break.

“She’ll definitely go for a decent break after the Queensland Oaks, and she might come back for one or two races towards the end of the spring,” he said.

This year’s Roses is shaping as a quality contest. Philia (All Too Hard), trained by David Vandyke looks a progressive filly, while Polymnia (Dundeel {NZ}), a brave third behind Benagil in the G1 Australasian Oaks, returns for another clash.

Churchill’s Choice (Churchill {Ire}) continues to build her profile and appears a genuine up-and-comer, and Verona Rose (Castelvecchio), who brings strong Sydney form, will need to overcome another tricky barrier, something that proved costly to her chances in the G1 Australian Oaks at Randwick.

With the Queensland sun now shining on this rising staying crop, all eyes will be on Benagil to see if she can cement her dominance and add another chapter to her already stellar campaign.

Jennilala chasing more Group 3 success, this time in Queensland

The classy Jennilala (Shalaa {Ire}) has already proven her quality winning Group 3 races in both South Australia and Victoria, and this weekend, she’s chasing more black type success in Queensland.

Trained by Gavin Bedggood, she lines up in Saturday’s $200,000 G3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Mile at Doomben, and looks a strong contender to add another stakes victory to her record.

Last time out, Jennilala was only beaten 1.5 lengths by the very much in-form Zloties (Snitzel) in the G2 Queen Of The South Stakes at Morphettville. However, Bedggood believes she was below her best that day, and encountered some tough luck.

“I thought she went okay without being great. There was no speed in the race and she's probably better if she can sort of get a cart into the race from something else, and that didn’t eventuate,” Bedggood told media earlier in the week.

“They went slow and probably just made it easier for those horses in the second half to pop out into that moving line before the corner.”

There was also a minor setback in the barriers that may have affected her performance.

“She gave her head a knock coming out of the barriers and needed to get a couple of staples just above her eye. She wasn't beaten far, but I think she's better than what her run was in Adelaide.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, the early speed map again looks questionable, but Bedggood hopes she can land in a favourable position.

“Without having a good look yet, there didn't look to be a lot of speed on paper, so she probably lands in that first-four position in running.

“We've added a set of winkers to her gear this week, but in an ideal world you'd love to see something roll along and she can just sort of get a camp on one.”

Now third-up since moving from the Ciaron Maher stable, Jennilala appears to be thriving, and her trainer is confident she’s improved from her last outing.

“She has done well since. She went back to Tony’s (owner Tony Ottobre) farm for a quiet week there, and we've sort of had her back the last three weeks and been able to tighten the screws.

“She galloped with Oscar’s Fortune on the grass on Monday morning and her work has been A1. She's continued to eat well, she's travelled in great order,” Bedggood said.

It shapes as a competitive edition of the G3 Fillies & Mares event, with a full field of 16 mares engaged. Topweights include the Group 1 Oaks winners Socks Nation (Sioux Nation {USA}) and Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}), while strong opposition will come from the progressive Vivy Air (Hellbent) and the consistent Thalassophile (Not A Single Doubt).

But with her talent, adaptability, and a touch more luck, Jennilala could well be poised to feature in a very even edition of the race.