Exciting Doncaster Mile fancy Linebacker will carry just 49kg (108lb) and jump from barrier 14 in Saturday’s (5 April) Group 1 feature at Royal Randwick.

The three-year-old gelding, who will be ridden by Zac Lloyd for training partners John O’Shea & Tom Charlton, is battling early overseas favouritism in the 1600m feature with James Cummings-trained Tom Kitten.

Linebacker has been heavily supported since last-start victory in the G1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on 8 March.

“He’s had a tick-over trial and a decent piece of work in between and we’ve been really pleased with him. Happy with the draw, it gives us plenty of options,” Charlton said.

Hong Kong-based Zac Purton, Karis Teetan, and Andrea Atzeni will fly into Sydney after being booked for rides in the AU$4 million (approx. HK$19 million) feature.

While Purton will ride former Canadian horse Moira in her first overseas start for trainer Chris Waller, Teetan has been booked to ride Rise At Dawn but the gelding is first reserve in a field of 20. Atzeni will ride longshot Al Mubhir for English trainer William Haggas.

Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will & JD, is confident of Rise At Dawn’s chances if the front-running gelding makes it into the race after dropping 8kg (18lb) from his last start sixth in the G1 All-Star Mille (1600m) to carry 51kg (112lb).

Purton agrees that Moira, a last start winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Fillies and Mares Turf (2200m) at Del Mar last November, is an interesting runner.

Without a trial or a race in Australia, Purton said the mare needs to be taken on trust a little bit.

“Obviously, she won the Fillies and Mares there at the Breeders’ Cup in good fashion,” Purton said. “She can definitely run a strong mile. She’s never been right-handed before, so that’s definitely a bit of a question mark and Chris hasn’t had her for too long.

“It’s a strong race and especially being a handicap, there are going to be a lot of chances in the race but she’s an exciting mare to get on and I just hope that she can bring her best on the day so that the people of Canada – she was Horse of the Year there – she will give them something to cheer for and also the people of America as well.”

Drawn barrier 21, Purton said Moira adds another layer in the race that normally isn’t seen.

Leading trainer Ciaron Maher has two top contenders in the race – Another Wil (barrier 18) and Gringotts (six) – and will also saddle New Energy who has drawn barrier 22.

Another Wil started favourite and finished seventh from a wide draw in last year’s Doncaster Mile after winning the Doncaster Prelude.

“He probably wasn’t quite ready mentally (last year),” Maher said. “He has grown up a lot and his form would suggest that as well. You couldn’t rule him out, no matter what. He’s arguably our top seed going in.

“Gringotts, you can’t shy away from what he’s done either, but he (Another Wil) is a quality horse. Barrier 18, he may come in with a few emergencies (reserves), so 15 mightn’t be so bad.”

Globetrotting Japanese Group 1 winner Geoglyph will make his Australian debut while the Gavin Bedggood-trained Just Folk who won the Doncaster Prelude on Tuesday (1 April) to gain a start in the race will jump from barrier 10.

Purton also has rides in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) on Strada Varenna, Country Championships Final (1400m) with Sass ‘N’ Cheek, and Buffalo in the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

As well as the Doncaster Mile, Atzeni has been booked to ride Kinesiology in the G2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m).

Hugh Bowman also flies in from Hong Kong for rides on Red Aces in the G1 Australian Derby (2400m) and Rivellino in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes.