What started as a routine benchmark race at Rosehill in July has proven a defining juncture for Dylan Gibbons prior to piloting class act Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.

Having resumed riding a short time after shoulder operation, the young hoop rode Good Banter to the post in that winter affair.

Subsequently, he thanked co-trainer John O’Shea, which opened doors, and together with close colleague Zac Lloyd, he now does the stable’s work every Tuesday.

“Me and Zac are there every Tuesday together sending most of them around,” Gibbons said.

“They took me under their wing, which I’m very grateful for, and you’ve seen the winners we’ve had lately.

“Now having a couple of his good horses in one race, Zac can’t ride them all, so I’ve been fortunate to borrow Linebacker off him on Saturday, and he will obviously be a great hope.”

The Randwick Guineas winner from 12 months prior on the matching card, Linebacker begins anew post interrupted spring, peaked with Silver Eagle glory over Saturday’s route.

A mile specialist primarily, he thrives in sprints off a break, once accounting for Ka Ying Rising in a trial en route to that rival’s Everest conquest.

No matter if Saturday’s mount is fleeting, Gibbons aims to capitalize completely, not ruling out Linebacker figuring in the placings.

“I’ll just go out there and do my job and if we can get a result, great,” Gibbons said.

“He’s a good horse starting his preparation so as long as we get things right and start him off well, that will keep the team and connections happy.

“I had a sit on him on Tuesday to get a feel for him and his work impressed me a lot. I’d be confident in saying I don’t think sharpness will be what beats him on Saturday off his work.

“I’m very happy with how he is going into it and I’m really looking forward to the race.”

Interestingly, Gibbons reconnects with Good Banter for the initial time since Rosehill, contesting the Aspiration Quality (1600m), plus More Territories under O’Shea and Tom Charlton in the Wenona Girl Quality (1200m).

Bookmakers favor his Ciaron Maher-prepared Piggyback ($5.50) most in the Randwick City Stakes (2000m), where he eyes another forward showing after the Parramatta City Cup (2000m) success.

“She did a really good job the other day. I didn’t know much about her with it being first time on her, but the crew told me you just have to leave her alone,” he said.

“I had to back their judgement, and it was obviously the right call because she got out, and she motored to the line beautifully.

“We will adopt the same tactics, and a nice, low draw means I’m going to have plenty of options.

“There’s no reason she can’t reproduce what she did.”

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