The Home Of Racing : The grey horse Linton is back on Friday night; wishing no ill will to the champion mare, what do you expect first up?
John Sadler: Just a nice run. He is in good order, and we will get nowhere near the mare, but this is just a nice starting point for our future plans.
THOR: Behind the mare, it is a nice field on Friday night. Should Linton mix it well with the others, what is the long term goal for the gelding?
JS: We hope to get him to Sydney to the Doncaster, then going forward, to Singapore for their Gold Cup should he reproduces his best.
THOR: His last win was over the mile, where he beat the Darwin specialist Hawks Bay. He in the past has won over 2400m also. He is nothing if not versatile.
JS: He sure is. He actually has never run under 1400m before. When Lloyd had him, he did not want him over the sprint distances. Tonight is like a trial for him, albeit in a historic race.
THOR: Do the progeny of Galileo keep improving with age like other European breeds? Has Linton got improvement in him?
JS: He is certainly on his way back to his best and there is a really good possibility he can improve on his previous best. We have had a few little issues with him, but he has come back well.
THOR: What do you think was Linton’s best run for you?
JS: Without a doubt the Feehan last Spring. Sure he won that mile race you mentioned in Adelaide, but first up in the Feehan, he was 4th behind Happy Trails and Green Moon. He was held up while improving from the 800m and only got out after the leaders were gone. He arguably could have won the race. After that run, he had issues in the Mackinnon and the Cox Plate so we tipped him out.
THOR: Thanks John, have a nice night at the Valley.
JS: No worries
