Zac Lloyd’s red-hot form isn’t the only reason connections of Linebacker are rapt to have the jockey aboard for their shot at Doncaster Mile redemption at Randwick.
Not only has Lloyd ridden seven winners over the past two Saturdays, including taking out the $5 million Golden Slipper on Guest House, he has also been Linebacker’s regular rider for the past 12 months and knows the horse inside out.
The young hoop was in the saddle for Linebacker’s Doncaster bid last year when he was tardy out of the gates and flashed home to finish a luckless eighth, beaten just over a length.
Trainer Tom Charlton said Lloyd’s intimate knowledge of the four-year-old would be a major plus on Saturday, albeit short-priced favourite Sheza Alibi shaped as the horse to beat with just 49kg.
“He knows him well, and he got him to jump out of the gates well the other day, which is something that has let him down a bit, that horse,” Charlton said.
“When he missed the break in the Doncaster last year, I daresay it cost him the race.
“If we can execute well, he will run well. It’s just whether the 49 kilo filly might have a bit more, but we can’t worry about that.”
Linebacker came into the race off a Randwick Guineas victory last year, but this time through he has taken a weight-for-age path.
Finishing just 1-1/2 lengths from Joliestar first-up in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m), he was midfield behind Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and drops six kilos into Saturday’s feature.
While Charlton admitted he was hoping for more from Linebacker last start, he warned the horse could put in a flat run second-up, as he did in the Hobartville Stakes last autumn before bouncing back to claim the Guineas.
“He just felt the pinch the other day in a tough-run 1500,” Charlton said.
“He had a good blow, and he can do that second-up. He will run well third-up, and he gets a significant, six-kilo drop in weight.
“I don’t think he will be far away.”
Linebacker has drawn barrier nine of 16 and was a $17 chance on Wednesday in a market dominated by the Randwick Guineas quinella of Sheza Alibi ($2.10 fav) and Autumn Boy ($7), who are the only runners at single-figure odds.
