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By Ray Hickson

With a first grand final just a couple of weeks away, co-trainer Tom Charlton would be buoyed if Linebacker can square the ledger with star colt Broadsiding at Rosehill on Saturday.

Tom Charlton (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Many of the major players in the Group 2 $400,000 Kia Ora Hobartville Stakes (1400m) have the Randwick Guineas, run on March 8, as their early goal and Linebacker is no different.

The Godolphin colt holds a 2-1 advantage from their three clashes to date but Charlton, who co-trains with John O’Shea, would like to think the gelded version of Linebacker can be a serious rival.

“Broadsiding sets a standard,’’ Charlton said.

“We’ve had a bit of form tied in with him and he’s had our measure but this is his first preparation back as a gelding and we’re hoping we can bridge that gap.

“We want to see us get that first part of the race right and we’re confident if he executes a bit better that will reflect in the second half of the race.

“We’d be confident of a good showing and one that can step us forward to what we think is going to be a suitable distance over a mile at Randwick.”

Linebacker, $5.50 with TAB on Thursday and $6 in the Randwick Guineas, found himself in front when he resumed in the Eskimo Prince at 1200m and was ultimately run down by Public Attention.

He meets that horse again in the Hobartville on level weights, giving him a 2.5kg swing, and Charlton said leading is definitely not Plan A this time.

“Our intention will be to take a lead off something,’’ he said.

“We were happy to see him exuberant, fresh, well, which I thought was a positive sign.

“Was it the run in transit we wanted? Probably not. The natural leader never came over so to see him lead wasn’t ideal over that sort of trip.

“He probably didn’t execute as well as we would have hoped but all the same it was a creditable first-up run and he’ll improve off that.”

Stayer Athabascan begins his quest to go one better than 2024 in the Group 1 Sydney Cup when he resumes in the Group 3 $250,000 Parramatta Cup (1900m).

A last start winner of the St Leger on Everest Day, Athabascan has done enough at home for Charlton to be confident he’s on the right track.

“He’s come back fantastic, he’s had an uneventful campaign,’’ he said.

“His trials have been fine. It’s obviously short of his best and he’s up in the weights a bit so he’s vulnerable to a fitter, more forward, horse this weekend.”

Athabascan was beaten two lengths by Circle Of Fire in the Sydney Cup last year but it’s a very different start to this quest away from Group 1 weight-for-age company that he mixed it with on the way.

Linebacker runs second at Randwick on February 8

“We normally kick him off at a mile and he runs a nice race,’’ Charlton said.

“I think we are confident he can run well but nearly all of his winning form is at 2400m and beyond. As long as he can hit the line nicely and look like he’s come back as good as ever that’s all we can hope for.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting