A prevailing theory in racing suggests that a horse accustomed to 2000 metres has an advantage in winning a major mile race at Randwick. This notion could provide supporters of Linebacker with confidence as he prepares for the $2 million Five Diamonds.
This Saturday marks the gelding’s first attempt beyond 1600 metres in the 1800-metre Rosehill feature. His record includes a Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) win at three and a frustratingly unlucky eighth in the 2025 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Co-trainer John O’Shea is cautiously optimistic, believing that if Linebacker can settle well during the race, he will have every chance to showcase his stamina.
“It’s a risk until you do it. He will just have to execute well,” O’Shea said.
“If he goes to sleep for the first part, he should be right.
“He’s in great form, and he’s coming to a nice peak on Saturday.”
Although Linebacker has sometimes tested the patience of punters, he has been racing in excellent heart this spring. His comeback run saw him finish fourth in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m), followed by a placing in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) behind the smart Formal Display. He then finished second to Declichy Boulevarde in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m).
Declichy Boulevarde is set to be one of his rivals again at Rosehill. While Linebacker will carry 2-1/2 kilos less than their previous encounter, O’Shea acknowledges that Declichy Boulevarde will be a tough competitor.
“Full credit to ‘Declichy’ the other day. She has been airborne, so we knew she’d be the one to beat,” he noted.
“He just got flushed out because he had a horse on his outside and he (jockey Zac Lloyd) said, ‘I mightn’t get the opportunity to take the run, so I had to go’.
“He ran well, and it was a good pipe-opener for this week.”
O’Shea and his training partner Tom Charlton have also decided to back up Mr Chaplin following his seventh-place finish in a messy renewal of the Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Tuesday.
Vivy Air finished second in the Melbourne Cup Day feature last year before claiming the Five Diamonds just four days later. Provided Mr Chaplin pleases the stable in the coming days, he will have the chance to replicate that success.
“It’s an opportunity only once in their life to run in this race,” O’Shea stated. “He’s a big, tough horse. He’s got a little improvement out of (the Big Dance), so it wouldn’t be outside the realms of possibility.”
Zac Lloyd is scheduled to partner Linebacker from barrier seven, while Mr Chaplin will start from gate eleven with Andrew Adkins riding.
The Five Diamonds is shaping up as a key race for Linebacker; explore racing odds at leading online bookmakers.
