A typical benchmark showdown at Rosehill last July became a turning point for Dylan Gibbons, who now readies to handle premium galloper Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.
The up-and-coming pilot, back riding briefly after shoulder procedure, claimed that winter prize aboard Good Banter.
He later thanked co-trainer John O’Shea, leading to ongoing ties, with him and pal Zac Lloyd now galloping the string each Tuesday.
“Me and Zac are there every Tuesday together sending most of them around,” Gibbons said.
“They took me under their wing, which I’m very grateful for, and you’ve seen the winners we’ve had lately.
“Now having a couple of his good horses in one race, Zac can’t ride them all, so I’ve been fortunate to borrow Linebacker off him on Saturday, and he will obviously be a great hope.”
Securing the Randwick Guineas on the prior year’s same-day races, Linebacker restarts from a broken spring, best remembered for the Silver Eagle at this weekend’s venue and trip.
Primarily a miler, fresh sprints suit him well, as shown by toppling Ka Ying Rising pre its Everest masterclass in a trial.
One-time or otherwise, Gibbons is set to embrace the challenge, believing Linebacker capable of a sharp finish.
“I’ll just go out there and do my job and if we can get a result, great,” Gibbons said.
“He’s a good horse starting his preparation so as long as we get things right and start him off well, that will keep the team and connections happy.
“I had a sit on him on Tuesday to get a feel for him and his work impressed me a lot. I’d be confident in saying I don’t think sharpness will be what beats him on Saturday off his work.
“I’m very happy with how he is going into it and I’m really looking forward to the race.”
Paradoxically, Gibbons resumes on Good Banter post Rosehill, in the Aspiration Quality (1600m), and picks up More Territories for O’Shea and Tom Charlton in the Wenona Girl Quality (1200m).
Odds highlight Ciaron Maher’s Piggyback ($5.50) in the Randwick City Stakes (2000m) as prime, with Gibbons predicting sustained vigor from the Parramatta City Cup (2000m) repeat.
“She did a really good job the other day. I didn’t know much about her with it being first time on her, but the crew told me you just have to leave her alone,” he said.
“I had to back their judgement, and it was obviously the right call because she got out, and she motored to the line beautifully.
“We will adopt the same tactics, and a nice, low draw means I’m going to have plenty of options.
“There’s no reason she can’t reproduce what she did.”
Head to trusted betting sites for Canterbury Stakes options.