3YO Summary: Linebacker delivers superb second Group 1 for Super Seth

Written by Kit Gow, The Thoroughbred Report on 9 March 2025

It’s hard to say who had a bigger day on Saturday amongst the three-year-old athletes on both sides of the Tasman; Super Seth received his second top-flight winner with the exploits of Linebacker in the G1 Australian Guineas, Alabama Express chalked up a fillies Group double thanks to Alabama Lass and Treasurethe Moment, and the inaugural NZ$3.5 million NZB Kiwi went home to Te Akau Racing’s indomitable Damask Rose.

Gelded Linebacker makes it two top wins for Super Seth

Seven days after his son Feroce (NZ) was in the headlines for scoring the G1 Australian Guineas, Waikato Stud’s Super Seth got a fresh boost with the victory of gelded son Linebacker (NZ) in the G1 Randwick Guineas on Saturday, denying Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) a fourth win at the top level. It was a stirring victory with Linebacker kicking hard in the home straight past early leader Tenbury Wells (Fastnet Rock) and holding off a late attack from Broadsiding to win by a margin of 0.53l.

It was an emotional moment for co-trainer Tom Charlton – while it was John O’Shea’s 30th top-flight victory, it was the first for his young training partner.

“I know the tally of crossbar hits we’ve had in Group 1s the last few years so look, it’s great, I’m so thankful to him and the ownership of our stable,” Charlton said. “I watched the race with my wife, she cries a lot, which makes it harder for me.”

The ultimate gear change proved to be what Linebacker needed to come back to his best.

“He was in a really good rhythm today, they were going at a high speed, but he looked comfortable and he showed his true form back to a mile.”

The gelding was ridden by Zac Lloyd – with James McDonald taking over the ride on Broadsiding after Lloyd’s stirring first-up victory on him in the G2 Hobartville Stakes – to chalk up a third top-flight win.

“It was obviously a big privilege to ride Broadsiding last start, but Linebacker today, it’s not a bad exchange,” Lloyd said. “It panned out perfectly.”

A $160,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale purchase for John O’Shea Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from Haunui Farm, Linebacker is from New Zealand Champion First Season Sire Super Seth’s first crop, and is out of an unraced half-sister to G1 Eclipse Stakes winner Mukhadram (GB).

Damask Rose dominates in inaugural NZB Kiwi

The Australian-trained raiders might have been popular leading into the first edition of the NZ$3.5 million New Zealand Bloodstock Kiwi, but it was the locals who came out on top; Te Akau Racing’s boom filly Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) made her owners proud with a scintillating 1.5l victory in the event. Chosen for the Te Akau Racing slot in the race, the 3-year-old filly overcame being shuffled back with a tactical ride from Blake Shinn, exploding within the last 150 metres to beat Lindsay Park’s Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).

“It’s pretty surreal,” said co-trainer Sam Bergerson. “I said to (co-trainer) Mark (Walker) when we saw her flop out the back (that) she is going to have to be good from there.

“Fair play to Blake as he was very patient and the filly was so game. When she shot through we were all up on our feet. She has just kept improving, as we had earmarked her for the slot early on and we’re so thankful it has come off.

“I was a bag of nerves all week, and there are so many people to thank, I’m just so grateful.”

“She is a really good horse, we won the Karaka Million 3YO and it is really special to win the inaugural running of this race for Te Akau,” Shinn said. “She has an electric turn of foot, a real desire to take the gaps and savage the line as the pressure was starting to tell up against the rails, but she pinned her ears back and I’m just delighted.

“This means a lot, as deep down I’m quite emotional and have struck up a great relationship with Te Akau Racing. They are a big family unit and this is what it is all about for them.”

Damask Rose is now granted automatic entry to Australia’s lucrative 4-year-old race, the A$10 million Golden Eagle in November. The last-start winner of the R. Listed Karaka Millions 3YO has now accumulated over NZ$2.2 million in prize money across her four wins in seven starts, and is a granddaughter of G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner Te Akau Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park).