Adam Campton has every right to be cheering against Antino in the Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday, but the Gold Coast trainer says the rising star holds a very special place in his heart.
The Gold Coast trainer admitted it hurt to see the horse winning for new trainer Tony Gollan but was adamant there were no hard feelings, with Campton set to cheer loud for the horse he unearthed in the $3m contest.
Antino was a dominant debut winner for Campton at the Sunshine Coast in March 2022 before transferred to Gollan. However, Campton said losing the horse would only make him a better trainer in time.
“It’s tough to see him going out there winning races, but I love him that much, so it still feels special because he is such a good horse,” Campton said.
“I am cheering for him for sure, there are no hard feelings on my end.
Antino was one of the earliest horses Adam Campton trained. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography.
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“It probably taught me fair bit in training and life, it was a good wake up call and I think it could have been a turning point in my career because it has taught me how to manage things.
“I don’t look back on it now, I don’t want to dwell on it and I hope I have come out the other side of it well.
“I have some really loyal clients now who have trusted me with some nice young horses coming through the ranks, and that is where my focus is now.”
“I still love the horse, I think he is really special.”
Campton said while it was evident all along that Antino was well above average, he conceded Gollan had extracted the most out of the gelding ahead of his date with destiny in the Stradbroke.
“He is with a great trainer in Tony, the horse has done a super job and he was always destined for bigger and better things. Tony has got the best out of him,” Campton said.
“He’s such an athletic horse, he looks like a model and has the engine to back that up.
“I was very new to training when he came in and I didn’t really know what a good horse was like to train.
Antino cruises to victory for trainer Tony Gollan at Doomben. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography.
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“In his gallops, we thought he was going well, then he jumped out one day and he showed a fair bit of ability, then he was super at the trials.
“We took him to the races for the first time at the Sunshine Coast and he was brilliant and ran time, so he was always going to be pretty special.”
Antino has had 15 starts for Gollan and nine wins, along with a Group 1 second placing behind Attrition in the Toorak Handicap last year.
He is a $6 favourite for the Stradbroke on Saturday with TAB.