A standard benchmark event at Rosehill during July has become a pivotal opportunity for Dylan Gibbons as he gears up to partner elite runner Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.
The emerging rider had returned to riding just a few months post shoulder surgery when he guided Good Banter to success in that winter contest.
Afterward, he thanked co-trainer John O’Shea for the chance, conversations flowed, and now alongside jockey friend Zac Lloyd, Gibbons handles trackwork for the team each Tuesday morning.
“Me and Zac are there every Tuesday together sending most of them around,” Gibbons said.
“They took me under their wing, which I’m very grateful for, and you’ve seen the winners we’ve had lately.
“Now having a couple of his good horses in one race, Zac can’t ride them all, so I’ve been fortunate to borrow Linebacker off him on Saturday, and he will obviously be a great hope.”
Last year’s Randwick Guineas victor from the same card, Linebacker returns after a disrupted spring where his standout was triumphing in the Silver Eagle at Saturday’s track and distance.
Though renowned as a miler, he performs strongly sprinting first-up and notably bested Ka Ying Rising in a trial before that horse’s Everest success.
Whether this Saturday gig is isolated or not, Gibbons plans to seize it fully, anticipating Linebacker could place prominently.
“I’ll just go out there and do my job and if we can get a result, great,” Gibbons said.
“He’s a good horse starting his preparation so as long as we get things right and start him off well, that will keep the team and connections happy.
“I had a sit on him on Tuesday to get a feel for him and his work impressed me a lot. I’d be confident in saying I don’t think sharpness will be what beats him on Saturday off his work.
“I’m very happy with how he is going into it and I’m really looking forward to the race.”
Coincidentally, Gibbons links back with Good Banter since the Rosehill triumph, in the Aspiration Quality (1600m), and also partners More Territories for O’Shea and Tom Charlton in the Wenona Girl Quality (1200m).
Betting indicates his strongest prospects lie with Ciaron Maher-trained Piggyback ($5.50) in the Randwick City Stakes (2000m), with Gibbons forecasting another strong effort following their Parramatta City Cup (2000m) win last time.
“She did a really good job the other day. I didn’t know much about her with it being first time on her, but the crew told me you just have to leave her alone,” he said.
“I had to back their judgement, and it was obviously the right call because she got out, and she motored to the line beautifully.
“We will adopt the same tactics, and a nice, low draw means I’m going to have plenty of options.
“There’s no reason she can’t reproduce what she did.”
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