Gibbons lands timely Linebacker mount after Rosehill breakthrough
An ordinary benchmark contest at Rosehill back in July evolved into a career highlight for Dylan Gibbons, setting him up to steer star performer Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.
The promising jockey, mere months removed from shoulder surgery, had steered Good Banter to victory in that midwinter feature.
Post-race, he expressed gratitude to co-trainer John O'Shea, sparking further dialogue that led to him and mate Zac Lloyd now working the stable's horses every Tuesday morning.
"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."
Linebacker, who captured the Randwick Guineas on last year's equivalent meeting, kicks off following a patchy spring highlighted by his Silver Eagle score over the same course and distance as Saturday.
Best suited to a mile, he excels sprinting fresh, including defeating Ka Ying Rising in a trial before the latter's Everest glory.
Irrespective of it being a single ride, Gibbons is determined to make the most of it and expects Linebacker to contend strongly.
"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."
By chance, it's Gibbons' first ride on Good Banter since that Rosehill success, in the Aspiration Quality (1600m), while he also handles More Territories for O'Shea and Tom Charlton in the Wenona Girl Quality (1200m).
Current markets point to Ciaron Maher's Piggyback ($5.50) in the Randwick City Stakes (2000m) as his top shot, and he anticipates a repeat of her Parramatta City Cup (2000m) dominance.
"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."
Visit online bookmakers to find the latest betting markets for the Canterbury Stakes.
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