Linebacker kicks off Doncaster prep

[Wandering Eyes]

Smart four-year-old Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) will contest the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) fresh-up on Saturday, in a campaign focused on Doncaster redemption.

The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding was luckless in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last year when eighth and steps straight into elite-level company on Saturday when resuming.

“He couldn’t be going any better,” O’Shea said. “He is always a bit suspect first-up, particularly at that level. But I have never run him first-up at 1300m since his first start in a race.

“1300m is a good trip for him. He won the Silver Eagle at that track and trip last season and did a great job.

“He obviously has improvement in him with whatever he does on Saturday, but with the strength of his trials and the manner in which he has worked, he will run very well.”

Linebacker is on the fourth line of betting at $9 in a field headed by Cambridge Stud’s star sprinter Joliestar (Zoustar) ($2.50), her Chris Waller stablemate Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) ($4.60) and high-class galloper Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) ($8).

A son of Super Seth, Linebacker has been allocated 53kgs in the A$4 million Doncaster which is run at Randwick on April 4.

“Linebacker is a Group One winner at set weights and he is getting in six kilos under the scale,” O’Shea said.

“We are very happy with how he is weighted. We are hoping to absolve the sins of last year, when he was frightfully unlucky in the race.”

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