John O’Shea tipping improved Linebacker to give Broadsiding a shake in Group 2 Hobartville Stakes

Linebacker is on a path to the Group 1 Randwick Guineas and will take an important step towards the race at a happy hunting ground.

Star three-year-olds Broadsiding (left) and Linebacker will clash in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes. Pictures: Getty Images

Trainer John O’Shea is welcoming the chance to get Linebacker back to his “favourite haunt” as puts Saturday’s Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) in his crosshairs at Rosehill Gardens.

O’Shea, fresh from a winning double at Royal Randwick, is expecting a much-improved showing from his talented gelding as he takes another important step towards a Group 1.

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Linebacker led up the field first-up at Randwick before finishing a 1-1/4-length runner-up to Public Attention in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).

“He has never won at six (furlongs) so we were always a bit dubious on him last week,” O’Shea said.

“But he probably just executed a little poorly. He will go a lot better.

“I was surprised he found himself in front, it wouldn’t have been our favoured thing for him.

“He had two-and-a-half kilos more than everyone else and got beat a length or so and gets back to his favourite haunt over 1400m at Rosehill.”

Linebacker won the Group 3 Baillieu Quality (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens as a two-year-old while he was sixth in the Group 1 Golden Rose at his only other start at the track and trip despite playing up badly before the race.

PUBLIC ATTENTION wins the Eskimo Prince Stakes!

An impressive first-up Group 3 win from the @MickPriceRacing three-year-old under @SchofieldChad, the grey outpointed leader Linebacker with Gatsby's running on in third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/GEbwbfMmzS

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 8, 2025

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He will face added competition in the Hobartville Stakes with three-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding set to be added to the mix first-up from a spell.

Zac Lloyd is expected to take the reins in Broadsiding’s first public appearance this autumn with regular rider James McDonald in Saudi Arabia to link up with Romantic Warrior.

Public Attention will have a new jockey in the Hobartville Stakes with Josh Parr to take over for the suspended Chad Schofield.

O’Shea and Charlton will head back to the fillies path with Snow In May after she finished fifth in the Eskimo Prince.

She will line up a week later in the Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

Snow In May could be joined in the Surround Stakes by classy filly More Territories, who completed a winning double for O’Shea and Charlton on Saturday.

Stablemate Yorkshire has been sent for a spell after chalking up his third consecutive win.

Yorkshire will be prepared for a crack at the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) on Friday, May 16 at Scone in a bid to qualify him for the $3 million Big Dance.

Originally published as John O’Shea tipping improved Linebacker to give Broadsiding a shake in Group 2 Hobartville Stakes