n a case of third time lucky, John O'Shea's highly touted youngster Linebacker has underlined his autumn carnival potential with a stunning debut win at Hawkesbury.
The colt had been slated to kick off his career twice before, making it all the way to the barriers at Warwick Farm on February 7, only to be a late withdrawal after striking his head in the starting stalls, while he was scratched from the Canterbury night meeting last week after drawing wide.
But Linebacker ($2.30 favourite) finally got an opportunity to showcase his wares in the HRC Motel 2YO Maiden (1300m) on Wednesday and didn't disappoint, making the running and bounding further ahead in the straight to score by four lengths.
Bosustow ($3.30), who was also a late scratching from the same Warwick Farm race, did best of the chasers, with Iceman ($51) another 4-1/2 lengths away third.
The winner quickly firmed from $26 into $11 in pre-nomination markets for the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) and jockey Kerrin McEvoy had no qualms in declaring Linebacker an exciting talent.
"He performed really well in the trials three or four weeks ago and showed that's he's got ability, and that's what he showed there today," McEvoy said.
"He is above-average for sure."
Tom Charlton, representing the O'Shea stable, was relieved to see Linebacker pass his first race day test and said they regarded the son of 2019 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth highly.
"From the moment we've ever done anything with him, he has been the most professional horse," Charlton said.
"His stride is that big, he looked to handle (the wet) conditions well, he's going to stay further and we'll just see what plans are from here."
Linebacker holds an entry for the Group 1 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 6 for which he is a $15 chance, with the Champagne Stakes at the same venue a fortnight later.
