Haunui graduate stars in Baillieu

Linebacker and Anode go stride for stride to the line in the Gr.3 Ballieu (1400m) with the former getting his nose in front to win. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au

Linebacker became the first stakes winner for freshman Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth with a classy and tenacious victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hyland Race Colours Baillieu (1400m) at Rosehill – a performance that also earned him a shot at next month’s Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Held in high regard by trainer John O’Shea, Linebacker made a perfect start to his career with a four-length win on debut at Hawkesbury in late February. The Bailleu was a big step up for his second start on Saturday, but Linebacker rose to the occasion.

Ridden positively from the inside gate by jockey Tommy Berry, Linebacker settled in second before moving up to eyeball the front-running Anode at the home turn. That rival fought back fiercely and it developed into a desperate duel down the straight, but Linebacker kept lifting and took top honours by a nose. The third placegetter finished more than two lengths behind the first pair.

“I pulled up with a lot of admiration for this horse,” Berry said. “There’s so much more under the bonnet than what you’ve seen today.

“A few things were against him. He’s gone from a soft track to a firm deck, and he handled that quite well. We also drew in and had that pressure from the outside – I think he’ll be better when he draws out a little bit and can take that time to get into his spot.

“He’s got such a big stride, and horses like that just need to bowl along and get into their rhythm. But he knows how to win, and it’s great for his connections.”

Linebacker’s two-start, two-win career has so far earned A$161,550 for an ownership group that includes Mystery Downs’ Francis and Christine Cook.

“He’s a real racehorse,” O’Shea said. “Further down the track, I think he’ll run a mile, a mile and a quarter.

“It was a big challenge for him today, coming out of a maiden at Hawkesbury and into a Group Three, and we had to ride him a bit different.

“There was plenty for him to learn, and he did a great job. He wants to be a racehorse. He wants to win, wants to stick his neck out. Tommy gave him a beautiful ride and taught him plenty. He’s on an upward spiral and has a bright future.

“Now we want the other two-year-olds to beat each other up in the Sires’ (Gr.1, 1400m) next week and have a hard run. Then we’ll head into the Champagne with fresh legs and a nice young colt on the way up.”

Bred by GSA Bloodstock, Linebacker was purchased out of Haunui Farm’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $160,000 by O’Shea and Suman Hedge Bloodstock.

He is a son of the English-bred Oasis Dream mare Garden Of Swans, who is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Sandown Eclipse Stakes (2000m) winner and sire Mukhadram.

Linebacker’s brother was also secured by O’Shea with James Bester Bloodstock for A$80,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Super Seth has been represented in New Zealand by the winners Poetic Champion, who also placed in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) and the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), and Diablo Blanco from just six representatives.

His progeny were keenly sought after at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in January, with a top Book 1 price of $700,000 paid by Patella Bloodstock for Pencarrow Stud’s half-brother to Group winners Pearl Of Alsace and Zourion. -NZ Racing Desk