Joe Pride rates Neeson one of his stable's best horses, and hopes to send him to the paddock on a winning note after Saturday's Listed Hawkesbury Guineas.Pride took away the temptation of the Brisbane carnival by not nominating the three-year-old for the big winter races, and said he would concentrate on the spring after Neeson runs in the $100,000 Guineas (1400m).Neeson won three races in a row this preparation, including the Listed Darby Munro (1200m), before finishing second to Star Of Octago
Joe Pride rates Neeson one of his stable's best horses, and hopes to send him to the paddock on a winning note after Saturday's Listed Hawkesbury Guineas.
Pride took away the temptation of the Brisbane carnival by not nominating the three-year-old for the big winter races, and said he would concentrate on the spring after Neeson runs in the $100,000 Guineas (1400m).
Neeson won three races in a row this preparation, including the Listed Darby Munro (1200m), before finishing second to Star Of Octagonal in the Group Three South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick on April 17.
Pride said the gelding's form this preparation hadn't been a surprise, and he expected the son of Mossman to be very hard to beat on Saturday around Hawkesbury.
"To be honest, without wanting to sound cocky, he's done what I've expected of him this preparation," Pride said.
"I have a great opinion of the horse and have him penned in as one of my best horses.
"We'll aim him at the spring. I tossed and turned for a long time (about Brisbane) but took away that temptation by not nominating him for the big races in Brisbane.
"Not because I don't think he's up to it, but because if I think he is going to be one of my best horses, why smash him as a three-year-old?"
The Warwick Farm-based trainer said Neeson had progressed well since his last run, and Peter Robl would take over the reins on Saturday.
"He worked really well yesterday (Tuesday) and a dry track will suit him. He's definitely better on top of the ground," Pride said.
"I thought his run last start was super. I think Blake (Shinn) was just a bit too patient on him and could have let him roll into the race.
"He'll be suited around Hawkesbury because he races on the speed."
The Hawkesbury Guineas attracted 26 nominations on Tuesday including Star Of Octagonal.
The Chris Waller-trained Stryker was also among the entries but won't run, as he'll leave for Queensland on Friday to begin a winter carnival campaign in Saturday week's Group Three Gold Coast Guineas (1200m).
Waller's stable foreman Pail Shailer said the three-year-old had come through his last-start fourth in the Group One Galaxy (1100m) in good order, and would be aimed towards the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in June.
Robl has ridden Neeson once for a win at Rosehill last preparation, and is looking forward to getting back on him again on Saturday.
The jockey rode his first city winner at Canterbury on Wednesday, since returning from almost three months on the sidelines with injury, and has also been booked to ride Bay Window in the $100,000 Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury, as well as So Anyway in the $100,000 Darley Crown (1300m).
"They're three terrific rides," Robl said.