Tony Gollan insists Doomben Cup not a two-horse race between Antino and Pride Of Jenni
The Brisbane Racing Club's promotion of a free amber ale for any adult on track if either of the two favourites scores the Doomben Cup is a great promotional tool, but Antino's trainer Gollan said it would be no surprise if there was a party pooper.
While Blake Shinn 's daring ride on Antino to win the Hollindale Stakes was exceptional, Gollan said the nature of the Gold Coast track that day meant there were plenty of valid excuses among the beaten brigade.
Doomben Cup contenders such as Eliyass and Buckaroo were beaten out of sight on the Heavy 9 track that day and other Doomben Cup hopefuls such as last year's winner Bois D'Argent and Fawkner Park also didn't love the sodden track.
Pride Of Jenni and Antino may be the top pegs in Doomben Cup betting, but Gollan said there are many chances in one of the better Doomben Cups he can remember in his time training in Brisbane.
'There is some media around the promotion with the free beers and that's all great for the carnival,' Gollan said.
'But this is certainly not a two-horse race.
'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.
'I think a lot of people will discard the Hollindale form, to a degree, due to the way the track was that day with the kickback.
'You can make excuses for beaten horses there for sure.'
Antino had a spin around Doomben at 6am on Tuesday with his regular track work rider, former jockey Baylee Nothdurft, in the saddle.
It wasn't an overtaxing gallop with Gollan mindful it was a big effort to win the Hollindale and now he just needs to tick him over before Saturday.
Pride Of Jenni was due to arrive on a flight to Queensland on Tuesday night and Gollan is glad the Ciaron Maher -trained freakish talent is in the race.
Given the different track conditions – with little rain forecast in Brisbane this week – and Pride Of Jenni's frontrunning style, Gollan said it will be a very different race to the Hollindale.
'How much you want to take out of that Gold Coast meeting will be up to each person individually,' Gollan said.
'I think it's going to be a hell of a race, we know what Pride Of Jenni's style of racing is.
'There are plenty coming out of the Hollindale that you can make excuses for.
'There were contributing factors down there as to why some horses didn't run to their best, with the surface that day and the kickback.'
Gollan said Antino, last year's Group 1 Toorak Handicap champion, is the best horse he has trained.
Asked specifically why he holds Antino in such high esteem, Gollan said it was because 'of his ability to sustain a gallop for longer than any horse I've ever trained'.
Pride Of Jenni drew barrier one for her Doomben Cup assignment while Antino drew barrier 11 of 13.
Drawing out wide isn't too much of a worry for Antino, given he is sometimes slow away and a wider draw can be preferable to an inside draw.
He started from barrier 10 of 13 when Shinn took off from back in the field to win the Hollindale.
The Doomben Cup has produced double-figure winners the last three years with Bois D'Argent ($26) getting the chocolates last year and the previous two years Huetor saluted at $10 and $26.
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