3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 3 Hyland Race Colours Baillieu is won by Linebacker at Rosehill on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Linebacker (J O'Shea/T Berry) - $1.85F
2nd: Anode (G Waterhouse & A Bott/A Hyeronimus - $3.90
3rd: Broadsiding (J Cummings/J Kah) - $11

Winning Time: 1:23.15 Last 600m: 34.48

Margins: ½Head x 2½L

The fav Linebacker takes the G3 Baillieu from Anode in a thrilling finish!@TommyBerry21 @JohnOSheaRacing @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/FZcxXZApZN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 30, 2024

Winning Trainer: John O'Shea

Star in the making?: "He is. It was a good challenge for him today because he lacked a bit of ringcraft. It was something new for him to chase one.

"Obviously, it's hard to make up ground off the fence today, so it was a new string to his bow but he's a quality animal and he'll learn from that.

"We will look forward to the next couple of weeks."

Not Sires, straight to Champagne and hoping other 2YOs beat each other up in Sires': "I'm really keen to get him to a mile where he gets control. We'll see what the next few weeks bring but that will help him today no end and we'll get him to the Champagne in three weeks and see what it brings."

Holding on to name?: "Michael Anglos, who is an NFL tragic, and Jackson in our office have had it up our sleeve for one we thought was really good and consequently this horse got it. When we knew he had something to offer we wanted to give him this name."

"He's a real horse. The day where he can run along on speed, he'll run a mile, a mile-and-a-quarter down the track.

"It was a big challenge for him today to come out of maiden grade at Hawkesbury and come here for a Group Three, we had to ride him a bit differently, so there was plenty for him to learn.

"He did a great job, he wants to be a racehorse, he wants to win, he wants to stick his neck out and Tom gave him a beautiful ride and taught him plenty

"We're happy with our bloke, he's made a great transition. He's on an upward spiral and he's got a very bright future."

Confirmed won't go to Sires: "We just want those other fellas to beat each other up next week and have a hard run, get into the trenches and we'll just come up to the Champagne with fresh legs and a nice young colt on the way up."

Winning Jockey: Tommy Berry

Group-winning colt, made connections excited: "And me. I was excited on Tuesday after I galloped him. I just had to find a way to get on him but lucky the connections I was riding for were nice enough to relieve me of my duties and get on a quality colt like him. So it was nice."

On the feel Linebacker gives him: "He gives you a great feel. I think there was a lot of merit in his performance today. He wasn't comfortable with the speed. I don't know if it's because he's got such a big stride on him but the speed didn't feel that genuine to me and he just wanted to get along at his own tempo."

"So, he's much better than what you've seen today. He's had a very good blow, he's had a good time between runs, so I'm not worried about the margin, I just know what he's got under the bonnet."

On picking up the ride after Kerrin McEvoy was injured in a race fall at Rosehill last Saturday: "He sits in my corner at the races on Saturday, so it's pretty lonely down in our corner so hurry up and get back Mac. But it was awful feelings here last week and having his kids on track, it makes you a bit emotional, it was pretty tough."

"But he was great this morning, he gave me a call and told me all I needed to know about the horse while he was eating a burger as I was sitting in a bath losing weight. So he's going all right."

Beaten Jockeys:

Adam Hyeronimus (Anode): "He has gone fantastic again. Probably deserved to win. He's done all the work and carried the big weight. Disappointed just to get beat a narrow margin."

Tom Marquand (Odinson): "Was going to go back and get cover. They just got slower and slower. So I decided to close up that front pair. Nothing else got into it. Probably just made his life a bit tough having made that move."

Tim Clark (Parkour): "Just back from the bad gate and never in the race."

James McDonald (Silmarillion): "Good run. She is improving all the time."

Josh Parr (Last Command): "He was flat footed at the start. He didn't muster any speed. I was in no man's land. He's done well to make up nice ground."

Reece Jones (Beyond My Ken): "Something amiss with him today. Not him."

Dylan Gibbons (Miss Busslinger): "She is a lovely filly. I will be excited to see what Kris does with her next."

Jamie Kah (Broadsiding): "He is a pretty nice horse. He is improving and will improve off that."

Andrew Adkins (Okami Star): "They were a little bit brilliant for him today but he'll keep improving as he gets up in his distances."

Tom Sherry (Flying Argento): "He is a nice horse. Just going to take a little bit of time and be better as he gets over a bit further."

Rachel King (Rawtion): "Not a bad effort stepping up in grade. He is going to be a lovely 3yo."