2024 George Moore Stakes: Hidden Wealth wins for trainer Tony Gollan ahead of Antino’s Hong Kong Mile bid

Queensland’s premier trainer may have won a Group 1 with Antino in the recent spring carnival and Antino is now aiming to take down some of the world’s best milers in the $7m Group 1 Hong Kong Mile on December 8.

While Antino is an established star, there is also something exciting about unveiling a new one.

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Five-year-old Hidden Wealth is hardly a young gun but Gollan has long thought there was something special about the gelding who has had his share of issues in his career.

After winning the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba in September, Gollan spoke about Hidden Wealth in the highest terms and said he was one to watch for the summer carnival.

A plan for summer domination was hatched and it kicked off with a dominant win in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes on Saturday in which Hidden Wealth started the drifting $2.25 favourite on a sodden track.

He matched motors with speedster Prince Of Boom in the early stages before jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor pressed the go button and he exploded, romping to victory by almost three-and-a-half lengths.

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A rich race on Gold Coast Magic Millions day in January will be the short-term goal for Hidden Wealth but such is his growing reputation, elite races during the 2025 Queensland winter carnival could also be calling.

“He’s a horse I’ve always loved from the get-go,” Gollan said.

“He has had a hundred little problems, that’s why he had such a long time off the scene at one stage.

“I loved watching him go through the grades and I’ve always thought this horse is going to get to a very good level.

“He has got that lovely sustained speed, not many horses have that.”

Earlier, the Country Stampede Final (1110m) provided an early career highlight for Emerald-based apprentice jockey Nikki Olzard who rode Lily Allez ($17) to victory for her boss, trainer Raymond Williams.

Olzard hasn’t been riding long and was so excited that she joked she might sleep next to the trophy for the $105,000 race.

“I have only been riding a year-and-a-half and to be able to win a big race like this, it’s unbelievable,” Olzard said.

“I did have a sneaky little peek around late in the race; this mare was hanging out a bit and I just tried to steer her as best as I could.

“I was pretty confident but then when we got the rain and the track was really heavy and I was even more confident, she has always been an honest mare and really tries.”

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Meanwhile, Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean have a nice filly on their hands with three-year-old Spicy Martini who came off a maiden win to score the Listed Mode Stakes (1200m).

The daughter of Justify started $10 and won in powerful style under Wilson-Taylor.

The training team has a high opinion of the filly and believe that with further development, the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara during the 2025 winter carnival might not be beyond her.

Originally published as 2024 George Moore Stakes: Hidden Wealth wins for trainer Tony Gollan ahead of Antino’s Hong Kong Mile bid