Linebacker is a pure product of the Jonathon Munz/ Dean Hawthorne academy, so it would be fitting if the John O'Shea-trained colt credits Super Seth with his first stakes-winner in Saturday's Group III Hyland Race Colours Baillieu Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
The 2-year-old chestnut colt jumped straight to the front and was never headed when making a hugely impressive debut over 1300m on a heavy track at Hawkesbury on February 21.
Bred by Munz's GSA Bloodstock, Linebacker races for a partnership of some of the trainer's loyal clients, including the Finemore family and Frank and Christine Cook, in whose colours he runs.
A $160,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for John O'Shea Racing / Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Haunui Farm draft, Linebacker is the third foal and second winner for the unraced Oasis Dream mare Garden of Swans (GB).
A half-sister to Group 1 Eclipse Stakes winner Mukhadram (GB), Garden of Swans (GB) was a 160,000gns purchase for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock / Badgers Bloodstock from the Trickledown Stud consignment at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
The dam of Garden Of Swans, Magic Tree (Timber Country), was bred in the UAE, and is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner's Kirklees (Jade Robbery) and Mastery (Sulamani).
Third dam Cherokee Rose (Dancing Brave) was a world-class sprinter winning the Group 1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup and Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.
Linebacker comes from the first crop of Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth, a first crop of Dundeel.
Arrowfield Stud consigned Super Seth to the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Dean Hawthorne signed the ticket for $280,000 on behalf of Jonathan Munz's GSA Bloodstock.
The half-brother to Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes winner Wild Planet won five of his 12 starts before taking up stud duty at Waikato Stud.
In January, John O'Shea teamed up with James Bester to purchase a brother to Linebacker for $80.000 from the Bhima Stud draft at the Magic Millions.
Garden Of Swans (GB) foaled a Dundeel filly last spring before missing to the 6-time Group 1 winner.
The biggest threats to Linebacker in the Baillieu Stakes are likely to come from Godolphin's progressive Too Darn Hot (GB) colt Silmarillion and the Waterhouse/Bott-trained I Am Invincible colt Anode, who has had little luck in his past two starts when separating Dublin Down and Coleman in the Group III Pago Pago Stakes and a close-up third in the Listed Lonhro Plate.
