John O’Shea and Tom Charlton’s star 3YOs Linebacker and Snow In May ready to take next step at Royal Randwick

Trainer John O’Shea is keen for promising three-year-olds Linebacker and Snow In May to start turning potential into performance when they begin their preparations at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer John O’Shea is keen for promising three-year-olds Linebacker and Snow In May to start turning potential into performance when they begin their preparations at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Linebacker and Snow In May clash first-up in the Group 3 $250,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).

The stablemates have much in common. Each horse is starting their third race campaign, they have both won two races and boast a Group 1 placing over the Randwick mile course.

But O’Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, maintains the best is yet to come from Linebacker and Snow In May ahead of their highly anticipated return to racing.

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“We need to see good runs from them on Saturday so we can lay the foundations for the rest of the autumn,’’ O’Shea said.

“If you can’t compete at this level you would be kidding yourself going up in grade.

“But I do think both horses will acquit themselves well.’’

Linebacker, who was runner-up to Godolphin star Broadsiding in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes last season, has been gelded since he last raced and is at $4.20 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting behind the Chris Waller-trained Gatsby’s ($2.70 favourite).

That is one brave win for Broadsiding in the G1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick for @JamesCummings88 and @mcacajamez!@[e-mail]/cE7IlcbvAk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 20, 2024

• EXPERT TIPS: James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday

O’Shea said Linebacker’s two barrier trial efforts leading into the Eskimo Prince have been encouraging.

“We are very happy with his progress,’’ O’Shea said. “He seems to be coming up well.’’

Snow In May is attempting to become the first filly to win the Eskimo Prince since Ichihara in 2013.

The O’Shea and Charlton-trained filly hasn’t raced since her third behind brilliant filly Lady Shenandoah in the Group 1 Flight Stakes last spring.

“I thought she was tested at the mile at Randwick at her last start,’’ O’Shea said.

“But she has strengthened up really well during her break. We will see how she goes Saturday but we are heading towards the Surround Stakes.’’

Make way for the lady!

Lady Shenandoah makes a mess of the G1 Flight Stakes with a dominant win for @ZacLloydx and @cwallerracing!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/GAlwl6Ber6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 5, 2024

• Ray & Duff: Why Inglis Millennium is worth the Price Tag

O’Shea is also anticipating a competitive showing from underrated filly Artistic Venture in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m).

A $50,000 yearling purchase by Tricolours Racing’s James Moss at the Inglis Classic Sale last year, Artistic Venture shaped promisingly on debut when closing off her race strongly when fourth behind Within The Law in the Inglis Nursery (1000m) back in December.

“She was good on debut and will appreciate 1100m,’’ O’Shea said.

“I thought she is drawn perfectly (barrier nine) for her. She is drawn to find a midfield position with a bit of room.

“They will go a good gallop and she is a filly that will be hitting the line strongly.’’

The @inglis_sales Nursery goes to Within The Law, giving Jason Collett a Randwick double!@BBakerRacing | @Darby_Racing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/sybM96XEML

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2024

• Saturday Market Movers: $17 to $5 firmer

O’Shea will be at Randwick on Saturday but Charlton is at Caulfield where Schwarz lines up in the first Group 1 race of the year, the $750,000 CF Orr Stakes (1400m).

Schwarz resumed with a dominant win in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley two weeks ago and champion jockey Blake Shinn retains the ride.

“Blake seems to suit that horse,’’ O’Shea said. “Schwarz is going really well, for all intents and purposes, we are very happy with him.’’

Schwarz has absolutely run them ragged in the Australia Stakes 🇦🇺😨@JohnOSheaRacing & @blake_shinn combine for a memorable G2 victory at The Valley. pic.twitter.com/ua5F1tfsXk

— Racing.com (@Racing) January 24, 2025

• Thompson puts faith in Lloyd to pull off Millennium miracle

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

PRICE Tag, the most expensive yearling purchase in the field for the $2 million Inglis Millennium, will prove an astute investment for owner Jonathan Munz if she wins the feature two-year-old race at Royal Randwick.

Munz paid $600,000 for Price Tag as a yearling but he will get all that back with interest if his filly can collect the $1.155 million first prizemoney.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Price Tag has been stakes-placed in two of her three starts in Melbourne including her last start second to boom filly My Gladiola in the Blue Diamond Preview.

“I feel Price Tag is in the top couple of fillies in Melbourne so we will see how the Melbourne form goes against the Sydney two-year-olds,’’ Munz said.

“I think the Sydney way should suit her and this race would then set her up for all the good two-year-olds races in Sydney so it will be interesting to see how she goes.’’

"This has been a smart effort."

Well-bred filly My Gladiola (I Am Invincible x Villa Verde) impresses on debut at Sandown 🔥@[e-mail]/1F491e3i7Q

— Racing.com (@Racing) January 25, 2025

• Blue Diamond chapter can be added to filly’s Cinderella story

Price Tag is the $3.50 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds to become the third filly in four years to win the Inglis Millennium after Learning To Fly (2023) and Xtravagant Star (2022).

Meanwhile, Munz provided an update on his outstanding sprinter Giga Kick, winner of the 2022 The Everest and runner-up to Bella Nipotina in the world’s richest turf race last spring.

Munz said Giga Kick was unlikely to be ready for the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick on Day One of The Championships, April 5.

“I think it is probably going to be too tight to get to the TJ Smith,’’ Munz said.

“So, he’ll probably trial in Sydney and then we will go to Brisbane for the Doomben 10,000 and the Kingsford Smith Cup.

“He had a year off and then had a proper preparation (last spring) so that should hold him in good stead. I think he can improve again next preparation.’’

Bella Nipotina wins the $20million TAB Everest, and is the first mare to do so, after fighting off 2022 champ Giga Kick!@CWilliamsJockey gets his second Everest and the stable of @cmaherracing their first!🔥🔥🔥#TABEverest@tabcomau@SkyRacingAU@7horseracing@racing_nswpic.twitter.com/FnAHvhjt5y

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) October 19, 2024

• ‘Not here for the picnic’: Trainer eyes Inglis windfall with $28,000 bargain

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

MR Brightside can move to fourth on the list of all-time leading prizemoney earners and top the rankings of Lindsay Park champions if he can secure a ninth Group 1 win in the $750,000 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Mr Brightside is the $2.50 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to go back-to-back in the Orr Stakes.

If Mr Brightside wins the first Group 1 race of the year, he will earn $450,000 to take his career earnings to $16,843,400, moving past dual Everest winner Redzel ($16,444,000) into fourth on the all-time prizemoney list behind champion Winx with $26,451,175.

🎥 | JD Hayes says Mr Brightside looks “tremendous” for his return in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes at the Festival of Racing launch this morning. pic.twitter.com/RgF3EDiqty

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) February 6, 2025

Mr Brightside is attempting to become only the fifth multiple Orr Stakes winner and only the second after Typhoon Tracy (2010-11) since attaining Group 1 status in 1993.

The other multiple Orr winners are hat-trick heroes Vo Rogue (1988-89-90) and Manikato (1979-80-81) and Lord (1959-60).

Mr Brightside is chasing a ninth career Group 1 win when he resumes in the Orr which would make him the successful big-race winner to come out of Lindsay Park since the legendary Colin Hayes founded the training operation nearly 80 years ago.

Better Loosen has held that honour for decades with his eight Group 1 wins including the 1990 Cox Plate and Japan Cup until Mr Brightside equalled the record when he won the Champions Mile at Flemington during the Cup Carnival last spring.

"We trust him ... Don’t worry about a Plan B."

JD Hayes is confident Craig Williams will recover from illness to ride champion Mr Brightside in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes on Saturday. @gilbertgardiner@lindsayparkrace@CWilliamsJockeyhttps://t.co/bMZhbosK8S

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) February 6, 2025

AUSTRALIA’S LEADING PRIZEMONEY WINNERS
1 Winx $26,451,175
2 Bella Nipotina $22,757,625
3 Nature Strip $20,765,008
4 Redzel $16,444,000
5 Mr Brightside $16,393,400
6 Verry Elleegant $14,886,619
7 Makybe Diva $14,526,690
8 I Wish I Win $12,776,803
9 Giga Kick $12,649,700
10 Think About It $12,163,050

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

5 YEARS AGO

Prime Star, trained by Richard and Michael Freedman, revelled in the heavy track conditions to beat Bella Nipotina in the Inglis Millennium, run that year at Warwick Farm. Supreme Idea took out the Lonhro Plate while the Eskimo Prince Stakes was not held in 2020. Alabama Express, the three-year-old colt trained by Mike Moroney, held off Fierce Impact and Kings Will Dream to score a thrilling win in the Orr Stakes at Caulfield. Hanseatic and Letzbeglam won the Blue Diamond Preludes.

⭐ Prime Star breaks his maiden and is the star of the $2 Million @inglis_sales Millennium! ⭐

How good is @TomMarquand riding these days?! Congratulations @Freedman_bros @Chinahorseclub 👏 Prime Star was a $55k purchase at the Classic Sale last year... not a bad return... 😮 pic.twitter.com/rO8og0YN9L

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 12, 2020

10 YEARS AGO

Peter Moody’s Dissident scored his third Group 1 win of the season when comfortably defeated Entirely Platinum to win the Orr Stakes. Dissident won a fourth major in the All Aged Stakes during autumn to clinch Horse of the Year honours. Of The Brave and Fontiton won the Blue Diamond Preludes. Scissor Kick scored impressively in the Eskimo Prince Stakes run that year at Rosehill which was also the venue for the Inglis Classic (now Millennium) won by Lady Jivago. Haptic gave trainer John O’Shea the first of three successive wins in the Lonhro Plate.

20 YEARS AGO

Elvstroem, winner of the Underwood Stakes, Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup the previous spring, sprinted brilliantly fresh to beat Savabeel in the Orr Stakes. The Tony Vasil-trained Elvstroem was sent overseas later that campaign and won the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free. Perfectly Ready and Doubting won the Blue Diamond Preludes. The late Guy Walter prepared Snippetson to win the Eskimo Prince Stakes.