By Craig Kerry
Trainer John O’Shea is confident Linebacker, and the form out of his Randwick Guineas victory, will shape up in the $4 million Doncaster Mile on Saturday.
Linebacker has been at or near the top of betting markets since holding off Broadsiding by a half-length over the mile in the Guineas on March 8, giving O’Shea’s co-trainer, Tom Charlton, his first group 1 win.
Linebacker downs Broadsiding in last month’s Randwick Guineas.Credit: Getty Images
With just 49 kilograms, the three-year-old was a $7 Sportsbet chance after George Ryder Stakes winner Gringotts’ firmed into $6.50 favouritism this week with a draw in gate six. Zac Lloyd will ride Linebacker from barrier 11, with all emergencies out.
Linebacker will be out to repeat Celestial Legend’s Randwick Guineas-Doncaster double last year, and O’Shea believed his gelding was even better placed on Saturday.
He said Firm Agreement’s close second in the group 2 Tulloch Stakes on Tuesday, after finishing well back in the Randwick Guineas, showed the class of this year’s Guineas.
“It went around in the Guineas and was probably not quite up to that grade, but to run very well at group two levels is sort of indicative that I think it was a relatively strong Guineas,” O’Shea said. “His rating, comparative to Celestial Legend, is probably marginally better and he’s got the same weight.
“Then it’s a matter of analysing how he lines up against what was a very strong [George] Ryder and obviously a very strong All-Star Mile.
“To be fair, those horses are probably weighted up to their best in a Doncaster, so we’re going to have to utilise our weight advantage and hopefully get a position in running that gives us a chance to finish.”
As for Linebacker’s condition, O’Shea was more than pleased.
“What I’d say is that the things we can control, we have under control,” he said. “He’s a very fit, healthy horse. Whether we’re good enough, we’re going to determine that on Saturday. But like I say, the preparation’s gone exactly how we would want it.
“He’s just having a nice couple of easy days going into the race on Saturday. We’ve got a horse in great form, the rider’s in great form, the stable is very relaxed with his preparation.”
The preparation of King Of Thunder for the $2 million Australian Derby (2400m), however, has been a different story.
With last weekend’s Tancred Stakes day washed out and moved to Tuesday, King Of Thunder – and others – will have just four days to recover from the Tulloch Stakes (2000m).
King Of Thunder came late with a strong run down the outside to finish a close third on Tuesday, and O’Shea was happy with the effort.
“He was strong through the line, pulled up well and that was a nice hit out for Saturday,” he said. “I think we’re going to get good conditions. I don’t think there’s any issue there.
“I don’t think there’s any issue for him at the trip. He’s executing his race plan so much better now as an older three-year-old.
“We can go into Saturday’s race knowing we’ve got a fit horse that will be better suited on top of the ground, that’s going to run a strong mile and a half, so we’re looking forward to the day.”
King Of Thunder, with Lloyd to ride from barrier one, was a $14 chance. Chris Waller’s filly Aeliana was the $3.20 favourite.
“The filly’s good,” O’Shea said. “She was very good the other day. But he’s good. He started favourite in a Victoria Derby. He didn’t execute well there. He’ll execute well on Saturday.”
O’Shea believed his best chance on the day was Polymnia in the group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m). She broke through with a dominant win at Hawkesbury last start after runner-up efforts in Warwick Farm super maidens.
“Probably our favourite runner for the day would be Polymnia,” he said. “She’s been a filly that’s been very unlucky throughout her career and the other day we sent her for a kill, and she got a kill. And she thinks she’s a bit all right now.
“Maybe we were treating her as a sprinter, and it’s pretty evident she wants to get over a bit of ground.”
