There’s a persistent notion that a horse suited to 2000 metres is required to win a significant mile race at Randwick. This perspective could offer encouragement to supporters of Linebacker, suggesting he possesses the stamina for the finish of the $2 million Five Diamonds.
This Saturday will mark the gelding’s first foray beyond 1600m as he contests the 1800-metre Rosehill feature. However, his credentials include a Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) victory at three and an unfortunate eighth-place finish in the 2025 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Co-trainer John O’Shea expresses quiet optimism, noting that if Linebacker can settle during the race, he will be in a prime position to extend his range.
“It’s a risk until you do it. He will just have to execute well,” O’Shea stated.
“If he goes to sleep for the first part, he should be right.
“He’s in great form, and he’s coming to a nice peak on Saturday.”
Despite Linebacker occasionally frustrating punters, he has shown excellent spirit throughout this spring campaign. His return included a fourth in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m), followed by a placing in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) behind the talented Formal Display. He then finished second only to Declichy Boulevarde in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m).
Declichy Boulevarde will again be among his rivals at Rosehill. While Linebacker benefits from a 2-1/2 kilo weight advantage this time, O’Shea acknowledges Declichy Boulevarde will be a formidable opponent.
“Full credit to ‘Declichy’ the other day. She has been airborne, so we knew she’d be the one to beat,” he commented.
“He just got flushed out because he had a horse on his outside and he (jockey Zac Lloyd) said, ‘I mightn’t get the opportunity to take the run, so I had to go’.
“He ran well, and it was a good pipe-opener for this week.”
O’Shea and his training partner Tom Charlton have also decided to run Mr Chaplin again, following his seventh-place finish in a chaotic renewal of the Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Tuesday.
Vivy Air secured second place in the Melbourne Cup Day feature last year before going on to win the Five Diamonds just four days later. If Mr Chaplin performs satisfactorily for the stable in the coming days, he will be afforded a similar opportunity.
“It’s an opportunity only once in their life to run in this race,” O’Shea remarked. “He’s a big, tough horse. He’s got a little improvement out of (the Big Dance), so it wouldn’t be outside the realms of possibility.”
Zac Lloyd is set to ride Linebacker from barrier seven, with Mr Chaplin drawing gate eleven and Andrew Adkins aboard.
Linebacker looks a strong contender in The Five Diamonds this Saturday; consider checking out the latest Australian betting sites for the best odds.
