Linebacker wins the Baillieu (G3)

A milestone for Waikato Stud's Super Seth, as the highly promising Linebacker credited the son of Dundeel with his first stakes-winner in Saturday's Group III - Hyland Race Colours BaillieuStakes (1400m) at Rosehill.

Ridden by Tommy Berry for John O'Shea, Linebacker kept his record at a perfect two-for-two when achieving the rare feat of out-dualling a Waterhouse/Bott runner, the I Am Invincible colt Anode by a half-head.

Linebacker created a huge impression when winning at Hawkesbury on debut.

"It was a good challenge for him today because he lacked a bit of ringcraft. It was something new for him to chase one," O'Shea said.

"Obviously, it's hard to make up ground off the fence today, so it was a new string to his bow, but he's a quality animal, and he'll learn from that.

"We will look forward to the next couple of weeks."

 "I’m really keen to get him to a mile where he gets control. We’ll see what the next few weeks bring, but that will help him today no end, and we’ll get him to the Champagne in three weeks and see what it brings.”

“Michael Anglos, who is an NFL tragic, and Jackson in our office have had it (the name) up our sleeve for one we thought was really good, and consequently, this horse got it. We wanted to give him this name when we knew he had something to offer.”

“He’s a real horse. The day where he can run along on speed, he’ll run a mile, a mile-and-a-quarter down the track.

“It was a big challenge for him today to come out of maiden grade at Hawkesbury and come here for a Group Three, we had to ride him a bit differently, so there was plenty for him to learn.

“He did a great job, he wants to be a racehorse, he wants to win, he wants to stick his neck out and Tom gave him a beautiful ride and taught him plenty

“We’re happy with our bloke, he’s made a great transition. He’s on an upward spiral and he’s got a very bright future.”

“We just want those other fellas to beat each other up next week (in the ATC Sires’ Produce) and have a hard run, get into the trenches and we’ll just come up to the Champagne with fresh legs and a nice young colt on the way up.”

Bred by Munz's GSA Bloodstock, Linebacker races for a partnership, including the Finemore family and Frank and Christine Cook, whose colours he runs.

A $160,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for John O'Shea Racing / Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Haunui Farm draft, Linebacker is the third foal and second winner for the unraced Oasis Dream mare Garden of Swans (GB).

 A half-sister to Group 1 Eclipse Stakes winner Mukhadram (GB), Garden of Swans (GB) was a 160,000gns purchase for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock / Badgers Bloodstock from the Trickledown Stud consignment at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.