Randwick trainer John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have a strong hand to play in three of the majors during The Championships

John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have the Doncaster favourite and a leading chance for the Australian Derby but aren’t complacent heading into the ‘Grand Finals of Australian Racing’.

Doncaster Mile favourite Linebacker leads the charge for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton for The Championships. Picture: Getty Images

The Doncaster Mile has a magical appeal, the ATC Australian Derby is for the purists, and the Sydney Cup a time-honoured staying race.

This is master trainer John O’Shea’s take on the three Group 1 races that are centrepieces of The Championships which start at Royal Randwick on April 5.

O’Shea, who formed a training partnership with Tom Charlton last year, will be represented by leading chances in each of the three majors including Linebacker in the $4 million The Doncaster Mile (1600m) next Saturday.

Also on Day One of The Championships, King Of Thunder is the O’Shea-Charlton stable hopeful for the $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m).

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Then their tough stayer Athabascan lines up in the $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 12.

But O’Shea doesn’t need reminding how very difficult it is to win a race during The Championships which are described as the “Grand Finals of Australian Racing”.

“When they first started The Championships I think they would have hoped this is what it would turn into,” O’Shea said.

“I thought last year the racing at The Championships was absolutely phenomenal with the quality of horses and races.

“Look at the Arrowfield Sprint and the filly that won it last year is nearly a champion (Joliestar).

“Our horse, Schwarz, ran a close sixth that day and he has gone on to win a Group 1 (William Reid Stakes) this season.

“The racing at The Championships is unbelievable every year. Credit to those who came up with this concept and they ultimately got what they wanted – it is The Championships.”

O’Shea and Charlton have a very real opportunity to snare the coveted Doncaster-Derby double with their three-year-olds Linebacker and King Of Thunder.

Linebacker goes into the Doncaster Mile as the $6 favourite after his outstanding last start win in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) when he defeated Godolphin colt Broadsiding who then franked the form by winning the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas last week.

Linebacker has WON the G1 Randwick Guineas for @JohnOSheaRacing! 🏆@ZacLloydx with a flawless performance to land Linebacker his first G1! pic.twitter.com/NnkGgo7cEr

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025

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O’Shea has already trained three Doncaster winners with Private Steer (2004), Racing To Win (2006) and It’s Somewhat (2017) and says the race epitomises one of the strengths of Australian racing – feature handicaps.

“You grow up as a kid watching the great Doncaster races of yesteryear,” O’Shea said.

“The great horses that tried to carry weight and win it which adds so much to the race and makes it a great contest.

“Private Steer and Racing To Win were outstanding racehorses and they got into the race with the right weight and were able to beat good horses to win,” O’Shea said.

Racing To Win was only a three-year-old when he won the Doncaster carrying 53kg while Linebacker gets into Saturday’s race with only 49kg.

“I think Linebacker is probably better performed at the same stage of their careers and he gets into the Doncaster with less weight,” O’Shea said.

“Linebacker’s a really tough, galloping horse and he will probably run further. He’s going well but I think this year’s version is an outstanding Doncaster.”

But O’Shea said even if Linebacker wins the Doncaster it is doubtful the three-year-old would back up into the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day Two of The Championships, April 12.

The master Randwick trainer said the reason is simple, there is a $10 million race to consider later in the year.

“The carrot of that Golden Eagle – all roads lead there,” O’Shea said.

O’Shea hasn’t won the ATC Australian Derby before but he has come very close with five minor placings – Hauraki (2015) and Benaud (2022) ran second while Kingdoms (2012), Tally (2016) and Lion’s Roar (2021) all finished third.

King Of Thunder is just far too good at Rosehill for @JohnOSheaRacing! 💥@ZacLloydx gets on the board early! pic.twitter.com/oAeWzEpCCb

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 15, 2025

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“The Derby is the purist’s race,” he said. “This is the hardest (Derby) to win because they are the best horses.

“But with King Of Thunder, we are going in with a good chance.”

King Of Thunder completes his Derby preparation in the Group 2 $300,000 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Tuesday’s rescheduled Rosehill Gardens meeting.

O’Shea won the Sydney Cup with Jessicabeel in 2010 and nearly led in the Cup winner again last year when Athabascan ran second to Circle Of Fire.

But Athabascan is back attempting to go one better in the 3200m staying test next week after he lines up in the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“We are very pleased with Athabascan, he’s going a lot better this time,” O’Shea said.

“He had a light spring because we wanted to get him ready for the Sydney Cup.

“He is going to run in the Chairman’s and hopefully that extra run is the difference between winning and losing for him.

“We have been setting Athabascan for this season. This year, our chips are all in for the Sydney Cup.”

The O’Shea and Charlton stable is taking Group 1-winning momentum into The Championships after they won their first majors together with Linebacker (Randwick Guineas) and Schwarz (William Reid Stakes) during March.

“It is great for Tom as he is meeting with success early in his career so it is all heading the right way for The Championships,” O’Shea said.