The scratching of favourite Star Of Octagonal from Saturday's Hawkesbury Guineas won't affect the tactics adopted by Joe Pride with Neeson.Neeson is the new favourite for the $100,000 three-year-old feature after trainer Todd Howlett elected to withdraw last-start stakeswinner Star Of Octagonal.Howlett said he wanted to reserve Star Of Octagonal for the lucrative $740,000 Scone Guineas (1600m) on May 14."It means nothing for me (that he's scratched)," Pride said."He's a very smart horse and it's
The scratching of favourite Star Of Octagonal from Saturday's Hawkesbury Guineas won't affect the tactics adopted by Joe Pride with Neeson.
Neeson is the new favourite for the $100,000 three-year-old feature after trainer Todd Howlett elected to withdraw last-start stakeswinner Star Of Octagonal.
Howlett said he wanted to reserve Star Of Octagonal for the lucrative $740,000 Scone Guineas (1600m) on May 14.
"It means nothing for me (that he's scratched)," Pride said.
"He's a very smart horse and it's one less good horse we have to beat but in terms of tactics and things it means nothing.
"He would have been behind us in the run anyway."
Star Of Octagonal defeated Neeson by half a length in the Group Three South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick last start and the pair were favoured to fight out the Hawkesbury Guineas as well.
Pride is confident Neeson is going into the race in great shape and said the 1400m around Hawkesbury suited his charge's on-pace style.
Neeson is now a clear $3.20 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Therock at $5 and Khas Kura at $5.50.
Delago Bolt was three lengths behind Star Of Octagonal in the South Pacific Classic and trainer Gary Portelli gives him a genuine each-way chance in the Guineas jumping from barrier three with the early favourite now out of the picture.
"He was the horse we were all out to beat, although he was badly weighted," Portelli said of Star Of Octagonal.
"No doubt it makes it a little easier but it is still a very strong Hawkesbury Guineas."
Delago Bolt finished fourth in the Group Two Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) to Shoot Out first-up this campaign and was then beaten under five lengths in both the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Randwick Guineas (1600m) before his fourth in the South Pacific Classic last start.
"His form has been okay in some pretty strong company," Portelli said.
"He's a good, honest horse who's been finding it hard to win but from that gate he gets his chance."
Howlett made the decision to scratch Star Of Octagonal as he didn't want to flatten the up-and-coming galloper ahead of the race at Scone which has been his main aim all preparation.
"I just wanted to safeguard Scone," Howlett said.
"I don't think he wants any more runs after Scone and I didn't want to give him one run too many.
"The horse is going well and I tossed and turned thinking about whether he should run (at Hawkesbury) but I do think it's the right thing saving him for Scone."