Antino proved Tony Gollan’s belief in his stable star’s ability to compete beyond a mile with a brilliant win in the Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast.

Last year’s runaway winner of the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), Antino powered home to win by 3-1/2 lengths in the Group 2 event. It was just his second start beyond 1600m, following a fifth-place finish in the 1800m Five Diamonds last November.

“I always had him pinned as a miler, but we’ve put in all the groundwork with him,” Gollan said. “We might dare to go to the Q22 after the Doomben Cup.”

Antino, now $4 second favourite for the $1 million Doomben Cup on May 24, has now won 12 of his 25 starts, with Saturday’s $300,000 winner’s purse boosting his career earnings beyond $2.5 million.

Fawkner Park ($19) finished second, half a length ahead of Kovalica in third, while Buckaroo, the $3.80 favourite, was beaten by almost 18 lengths into 10th place.

Blake Shinn, returning to ride Antino after a failed Hong Kong Mile attempt in December, was thrilled with the horse’s performance. “I trust this horse, and I have a lot of confidence in Tony as a trainer,” Shinn said. “Fortunately, it paid off.”

The meeting was cut short after the final race, the Bat Out Of Hell, was abandoned due to poor weather and track conditions.