Bougoure backs Gollan's Hong Kong bid

By Glenn Davis

The international race day in Hong Kong on Sunday brings back fond memories for trainer Danny Bougoure.

Bougoure knows what it takes to win an international feature at the picturesque Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong, having done it twice with his former champion Group 1 sprinter, Falvelon.

More than two decades on from Falvelon’s back-to-back wins in the Hong Kong Sprint, Bougoure will be cheering loudly from home as another Queenslander in Antino attempts to win the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile for premier trainer Tony Gollan.

Bougoure, who trained for many years at Eagle Farm before a move to the Gold Coast, has some friendly advice for Gollan ahead of Antino’s Hong Kong Mile bid.

Gollan has won 11 Queensland trainers’ premierships but finds himself walking in the same shoes as Bougoure who had never saddled a horse in an international race before Falvelon.

With Damien Oliver aboard, Falvelon narrowly beat American sprinter Morluc in the then Group 3 Hong Kong Sprint in 2000 before returning home to eventually claim his maiden Group 1 win in the Doomben 10,000 six months later.

Falvelon returned to Hong Kong in 2001 to win back-to-back Hong Kong Sprints beating Morluc for a second time.

“There’s two things to winning in Hong Kong,” Bougoure said.

“You need a horse with ability and attitude and Antino has both.”

Antino showed he has the ability after winning the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield before his last start second to Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes at Flemington last month.

“Attitude comes into it, as a horse needs to cope with the conditions over there,” Bougoure said.

“If they’re fizzy they normally don’t travel well, so they need to be laid back. Antino seems to have it all and deserves to be there.”

Settling into his new environment has been no concern for Antino as Gollan is delighted with his recovery from his first overseas trip.

“He’s settled in really well after he had a bit of a hold up on the tarmac in Melbourne,” Gollan said.

“He’s handled it all beautifully and didn’t lose much weight at all from the trip.

“We’ve done all the hard work and his preparation has been tailored to have him at his best for the Hong Kong Mile.

"He’s a very happy horse at the moment.”

Bougoure said having a runner in Hong Kong was a huge honour.

“It’s an international race day and the club played the Australian national anthem after Falvelon won his races,” Bougoure said.

“It’s a very emotional day and a big honour and a proud moment you never forget.

“The only downside than the travelling is the quarantining.

“When Falvelon went over he had Sunline in quarantine with him so there was no real problem for him.”

In latest markets for the Hong Kong Mile, Antino is equal second favourite at $5.50.