All eyes will be on Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising at the Randwick barrier trials but the session will also provide an important hit-out for Group One winner Linebacker.
Originally being targeted at Saturday’s Epsom Handicap (1600m), the four-year-old was ruled out of the feature after a setback caused him to miss a scheduled start in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) last month.
While it was only a minor ailment, it was enough to force a rejig of Linebacker’s spring program.
“In simple terms, he sprained an ankle. It just meant being on the easy list for a week or so,” co-trainer Tom Charlton said.
“Once he missed that run we were never going to the Epsom half-prepared.
But if he can have a good couple of weeks’ now there might be a light at the end of the tunnel in the Golden Eagle, which was always his aim throughout the campaign anyway.”
The winner of the Randwick Guineas (1600m) in the autumn, Linebacker raced handy to the speed from a wide draw first-up, finishing seventh to Pericles in the Tramway Stakes (1400m).
He will step out in a 1050m heat at Randwick on Tuesday with the Group 3 Silver Eagle (1300m) on October 18 his likely next start ahead of the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) a fortnight later.
While connections would have preferred the horse’s campaign had gone to plan, Charlton was optimistic Linebacker’s setback could prove a blessing in disguise.
“It might work out for the best,” he said.
“The one thing you don’t like having is hiccups throughout the preparation but if we can have a good trial and go to the Silver Eagle we’ll be back on track.”
“The 1300 of the Silver Eagle should be good for him and keep him on the fresh side.”
Tuesday’s trial session is highlighted by the opening 1000m heat restricted to horses contesting The Everest (1200m) and the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) and has attracted an elite line-up of six.
Along with marking Ka Ying Rising
