Jockey Tommy Berry feels a ‘sense of timing’ about promising colt Linebacker as he prepares for his Group 1 acid test

Unbeaten colt Linebacker is ready for his biggest test in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and give jockey Tommy Berry a Group 1 to end the autumn carnival.

Tommy Berry is adamant Linebacker is “a horse for the future” but is confident the smart colt can make a name for himself in the present in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

Berry has a strong hand on the final day of Sydney’s autumn carnival but Linebacker is among his best chances to end racing’s festive season on a high note.

The John O’Shea-trained colt is the $2.70 second elect in the Champagne Stakes and comes in with an unbeaten record from two starts.

“What I like about him most is what’s to come,” Berry said.

“He has only had a couple of starts and is still raw but everything he is doing at the moment is on raw ability.

🏉 The fav Linebacker takes the G3 Baillieu from Anode in a thrilling finish!@TommyBerry21@JohnOSheaRacing@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/FZcxXZApZN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 30, 2024

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“He is definitely more of a three-year-old and every part of him says that but his ability has got him to where he is now.

“On Saturday, he is up against the big boys and girls who have been racing in that tougher grade where he has come through easier options which could work in his favour.

“They’ve had the tougher runs where he has had easier ones but I like the sense of timing about him.”

Linebacker was a sensational winner at Hawkesbury on debut by four lengths with O’Shea putting the Champagne Stakes in his crosshairs at an early stage.

The son of 2019 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth warmed up for the Group 1 assignment with a tough effort to down Anode in the Group 3 Baillieu Quality (1400m).

Berry expects Linebacker will still have plenty of improvement from the second-up test.

“He still had a bit of conditioning on him then, this obviously wasn’t his Grand Final,” Berry said.

“Right from the start of the preparation they’ve said the Champagne was his race and they ran quick time last start so it shows they went along at a nice gallop the whole way.

“I think if had he had another run under his belt he probably pulls away.

“He was feeling the pinch but he is such a competitor, he was never going to get beat and that’s what is going to hold him in good stead in the future.”

Berry can snare a Group 1 double on the card with the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained sprinter Airman ($34) looking to deliver on his promise in the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m).

Bandi’s Boy storms home to win the G3 Star Kingdom Stakes en route to the Country Championships!@[e-mail]/fd5oFwaAus

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 30, 2024

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Airman boasts an excellent record of five wins and three placings from 11 starts and is being tested at the top level for just the second time in his career.

But the son of I Am Invincible has been set a task with a tricky draw in barrier 11 in a field of 14 contenders.

“Airman is a horse that has been plagued with bad barriers this prep,” Berry said.

“He has got another on Saturday which is a disappointing because he is going so well.

“The other day he needed the run so he is third-up now and peaking to run very well in this race.

“He is a horse that could go up to Queensland and have a very good time up there.”

Berry has a litany of stakes contenders but was also excited to reconnect with talented galloper Waterford ($14) in the Catanach’s Jewellers Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m).

The pair last combined to finish fifth in the Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at the same venue in December.

“Now he has been gelded, he has always been a hot horse especially when he is fresh but the other day in the trial he was quite relaxed even though we did lead with blinkers on,” Berry said.

“He is going along quite nicely and whatever he does on Saturday he will improve on because he’s another that will be set for Brisbane.”

Berry’s other stakes rides include Ravello in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate, Kalino in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes, Yonce in the Group 3 JRA Plate and Inhibitions in the Group 3 James H B Carr Stakes.

He also connects with Resistible (race 1), Wal’s Angels (race 2) and Amur (race 10).

Originally published as Jockey Tommy Berry feels a ‘sense of timing’ about promising colt Linebacker as he prepares for his Group 1 acid test