Tom Charlton is set to split two of his stable big guns between states this weekend with Linebacker slated to tackle the Luskin Star Stakes at Scone and promising sprinter Napoleonic the Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
While Linebacker has been nominated for both races, Charlton says he is favouring a trip to Scone as the extra 100m of the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) is in the horse’s sweet spot.
“He is nominated for both, and we can think about it, but he will probably go to Scone and Napoleonic will go to Queensland,” Charlton said.
“With Linebacker, 1300 is a distance he’s very effective at. He will enjoy Scone and if we can get a bit of confidence in him, we can get him to the Stradbroke (Handicap).”
The 2025 Randwick Guineas winner, Linebacker contested elite company during the autumn.
Finishing just 1-1/2 lengths from Joliestar first-up in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m), he was midfield in Autumn Glow’s George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and a solid sixth in the Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Charlton feels the gelding will benefit from a freshen-up and slight distance drop as he bids to get back to winning form.
“His Canterbury Stakes run was great, and the George Ryder turned out to be a very good form race, and he wasn’t too bad in hindsight,” Charlton said.
“In the Doncaster, he put himself in a good position and they went very quick. He presented like he was going to be in the finish, but the pattern of that race probably played against him.
“He was the best on-speed horse, and he might appreciate a freshen up and coming back to that 1300 and 1400 metres.”
Napoleonic was put away after a competitive Canterbury Stakes performance and has won two recent barrier trials.
Runner-up in both the Eskimo Prince Stakes and Hobartville Stakes, the three-year-old is also on a Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) mission, via Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 (1200m) and Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight later.
“He’s still improving and developing, and his trial is indicative he has improved again,” Charlton said.
“We came back this time thinking he was on a three-run Stradbroke campaign.
“James (McDonald) is riding him, so clearly he thinks he’s capable of winning.”
