Antino destroys classy Doomben Cup field in race-record time
Antino continued his imperious vein of form in the Group 1 $1 million XXXX Doomben Cup (2000m), annihilating his rivals in a four-length romp.
The last into stride, Antino ($3f TABtouch) settled third from the back as invariable pace-maker Pride Of Jenni ($5) adopted her customary role.
Beyond halfway, Pride Of Jenni had opened up by three lengths on Linderman ($10), who in turn held a similar margin over the chasing pack.
Past the 800m, Blake Shinn hooked Antino to the outside to begin his trademark long run and the six-year-old rapidly began to loop the field, making up ground hand over fist.
Despite being four wide, Shinn had a vice-like grip of Antino as he moved past Pride Of Jenni at the 400m like she was stood still.
With Shinn getting stuck-in up the straight, the son of Redwood effortlessly increased his margin with Fawkner Park and Kovalica toiling away to fill the remote placegetter positions.
Gollan, a Toowoomba boy, has won multiple Group 1s and 11 straight Brisbane training premierships but said this horse was a different breed.
'This is a new beast in my career,' he said.
'This has been the best horse I have trained . After winning the Toorak Handicap last year, we have all just gotten better as a team.
'Antino has gone to another level, what we have seen today is pretty special.
'It was a pretty good Doomben Cup field and now we will set our sights on the Cox Plate in the spring.
'His style of racing will suit a Cox Plate where you can build and build into it.
'Sometimes he doesn't break out of the barriers well, but Blake just lets him get into his stride and he knows when it is time to go.
'I just said to Blake today I couldn't get him any better and he will do the job for you.
'That's as good a win as I've been involved in.'
Pride Of Jenni's trainer and record-breaking master Ciaron Maher summed up the performance in a simple quote:
'That was serious, wasn't it?'
A Brisbane Racing Club promotion meant that free beer was enjoyed by patrons at the meeting thanks to Antino's win.
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