Linebacker (NZ) Heads Karaka 1-2 in Silver Eagle

The A$5m Group One King Charles III Stakes (1600m) wasn’t the only seven-figure race at Randwick on Saturday that was dominated by NZB graduates.

Less than an hour before the Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) and Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) 1-2 finish in the King Charles, fellow Karaka graduates Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) and Lord Penman (NZ) (Contributer) filled the first two placings in the A$1m Silver Eagle (1300m). 

Linebacker was a $160,000 purchase by John O’Shea Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock from Haunui Farm’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023. He has now had 11 starts for four wins, two placings and A$1.63m in stakes, headed by a Group One triumph in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) in March.

Lord Penman was offered by Mapperley Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2023 and was bought by Toro Bloodstock for $60,000. He was later re-offered at the Ready to Run Sale, but didn’t meet his $80,000 reserve. Raced by trans-Tasman syndicators Go Racing, Lord Penman won four races from Stephen Marsh’s stable in New Zealand before relocating across the Tasman and into the care of Chris Waller. His 11-start career has produced four wins, four placings and A$439,164 in stakes.

Linebacker had a minor setback last month that forced him out of the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m), but he got his spring campaign back on track with a win in one of the most talked-about trials of the year. Among the beaten runners in that Randwick trial last week was the Kiwi-bred champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), who went on to triumph in Saturday’s A$20m Group One The Everest (1200m).

Linebacker was sent out as a clear favourite on Saturday despite a big weight and tricky draw, and the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding delivered a quality performance.

After jumping from gate 12, Linebacker was unable to get any closer than three off the rail. But jockey Zac Lloyd was able to find cover and had the horse travelling smoothly, and when the time came to quicken in the straight, Linebacker’s response was high-class.

He took command in the straight and pulled clear to win by two and a half lengths from Lord Penman.

“He is so nice to ride,” Lloyd said. “I thought today was a query, obviously he’s had a couple of setbacks, but John and Tom are just training him so well.

“I just tried to keep it smooth and trust that I was on the best horse. I actually got a lovely run, considering he was three deep and they weren’t going fast. I had cover off the horse in front of me, because he was a bit off the fence.

“He put that field away so quickly and there is still so much more to come with him. I am so excited. He knows how to get the job done and he is a serious racehorse.”

O’Shea took real satisfaction from seeing Linebacker back at his brilliant best.

“This horse has just been going so well,” he said. “I was really disappointed when we had a setback early in this preparation, because I was desperate to run him in the King Charles.

“Zac (Lloyd) has got a great understanding of him now and the team have done a great job, my staff at home. A lot of work has gone into him to get him to this point.

“He’s in great form and Zac is riding him really well, so I’m very happy.”

O’Shea and Charlton are now building Linebacker towards the A$10m Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on November 1.

Linebacker is a son of Waikato Stud’s emerging superstar stallion Super Seth, who has 10 two-year-olds catalogued for next month’s NZB Ready to Run Sale.

Lord Penman’s sire is the late Mapperley Stud resident Contributer, who will be represented by six progeny at the Ready to Run Sale.

Vendor	Haunui Farm
Purchaser	John O’Shea Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) (New South Wales)
Breeding	Super Seth – Garden Of Swans
Sale	Lot 207, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $160,000
Breeder	GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Owner	Mr F W Cook, Mrs C M Cook, Finemore Thoroughbreds, Mr D J Hines, Prairie Racing , Mr M Angelos, Mrs C Briggs, Mr M W Finemore, Mr J D Melick, Mr R J Miller, Peake Racing, Mr T P Ballard, Mr T Charlton, Mr M J Miller, Mr S Miller, Mr A Harmanis, Mr N Socratous