Charlton Using Scone To Get Group 1 Winner Back In Line

The strength of the Group 1 form around classy galloper Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) tells trainer Tom Charlton he can show at Scone on Saturday that he’s on target for a return to that level.

A Group 1 winner himself, Linebacker hasn’t contested a race below Group 3 level (if you include the Golden Eagle) since his debut win and with 59kg Charlton said the Listed $200,000 Darley Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) is a nice springboard.

It’s no surprise that the Stradbroke is on the four-year-old’s agenda and from that perspective Charlton said he needs to be in the finish.

“He’d want to be running very well, his form suggests he should run well and the way he’s going he’s not horrendously treated at the weights,’’ Charlton said.

“We’d expect a good solid performance from him and if he can get the job done that’s great.

“We felt coming off the Doncaster that the Stradbroke was a realistic aim for him. I feel like his autumn preparation was better than it looked.”

Linebacker, $3 with TAB on Thursday, won the Silver Eagle over 1300m in the spring off a six week break and it’s a similar gap between the Luskin Star and his last start sixth in the Doncaster Mile.

Regular rider Zac Lloyd took the gelding for a spin to win a barrier trial two weeks ago and Charlton said while he’s finished around midfield or better in his last four starts they’re hardly failures.

And he won't know himself with the likes of Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), Joliestar (Zoustar), Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior), Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) and company all absent from this assignment.

“His run in the Canterbury Stakes was a big run and that form worked out well,’’ he said.

“In the George Ryder he probably needed it a touch in a strongly run race but when you look back at the horses he finished around it’s not bad form, take out the dominant winner.

“In the Doncaster he presented at the top of the straight before the horses suited by the pattern of the race came into it.

“We know he can freshen up and be effective back to six and a half furlongs and this is a race he can hopefully start his Stradbroke campaign in.”