Antino finally lived up to the hype of trainer Tony Gollan who had been singing his horse praises all week ahead of the Victory Stakes 2024 where the up-and-comer burst home up the inside to rocket into Stradbroke calculations.

2024 Victory Stakes winner Antino (pictured at Sandown) is now favourite to salute in the Stradbroke this winter. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Vlad Duric was a late booking to partner Gollan’s Group 1 performed son of Redwood first-up in the Group 2 $300,000 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm and he did a fantastic job.

Uncommon James was the favourite but was never in the mix running below par.

Five-year-old Antino, last seen running unplaced in the $2 million Five Diamonds back in November over 1800m at Rosehill, also did plenty wrong missing the kick and failing to get into a real rhythm throughout.

Duric never panicked however, having faith that the horse he first jumped on the back of on Wednesday had the ability to sustain a long run as suggested by Gollan.

“He’s got so much ability,” Gollan told the media post-victory.

“He really can sustain a long run, longer than any horse I’ve trained.

“Not only was he slow out, he was off the bridle mid-race.

“He never really travelled. He makes really, really hard work of it.

“But I knew once they got inside the furlong, they were never going to beat him.

“He’s not like any other horse I’ve ever trained.”

Antino, beaten a nostril flare in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap from out wide at Caulfield last spring, showed that ability fresh saving ground up the rails and coming for them late.

He flashed home to challenge and then race past Wee Nessy, who held for second after getting a late gap and briefly leading, and claim the Victory Stakes while third went to Golden Mile.

The success gave Duric a Black-Type double on the day and stamped Antino as one to watch in the upcoming Group 1 sprints over the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

Now a winner of 10 of his 15 starts, the Victory Stakes champ is likely to have his next run in the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) back at the track on June 1.

From there he will head straight to Queensland’s richest race, the famous $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 15.

“He certainly rockets into Stradbroke calculations now if he wasn’t already,” Gollan said.

“He’ll probably run in the Kingsford Smith in a month, that will just tune him up nicely for the Stradbroke.”

Srikandi (2015) was the last horse to win the Victory Stakes – Stradbroke Handicap double in the same year.

The Victory – Kingsford Smith Cup double meanwhile was last accomplished by Impending (2018) who also saluted in the 2017 Stradbroke.

Antino pays $8 in pre-field 2024 Kingsford Smith Cup odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au – available in full here.

For the Stradbroke Handicap 2024, he is now rated the $6 favourite and the complete markets at Ladbrokes.com.au can be accessed here.

2024 Victory Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.