Hong Kong sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising will attract much of the attention at Tuesday’s Randwick trials, but Group 1 winner Linebacker will also have plenty to prove as he resumes following a minor setback.

Once considered a leading hope for the Epsom Handicap (1600m), Linebacker was scratched from that plan after missing the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) due to an ankle sprain.

Co-trainer Tom Charlton said the problem was only short-term, but enough to derail their initial campaign strategy.

“In simple terms, he sprained an ankle. It just meant being on the easy list for a week or so,” Charlton explained. “Once he missed that run, we were never going to the Epsom half-prepared. But if he can have a good couple of weeks now, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel in the Golden Eagle.”

A winner of the Randwick Guineas in the autumn, Linebacker finished seventh first-up in the Tramway Stakes (1400m) and will trial over 1050m at Randwick on Tuesday to sharpen up ahead of the Silver Eagle (1300m) on October 18 and the Golden Eagle (1500m) a fortnight later.

Charlton said the enforced break might prove beneficial in the long run. “It might work out for the best. The one thing you don’t like having is hiccups during a prep, but if we can have a good trial and go to the Silver Eagle, we’ll be back on track.”

Ka Ying Rising’s trial will headline Tuesday’s session, with the elite 1000m heat also including several contenders for The Everest and King Charles III Stakes.