The Epsom Handicap campaign for stakeswinner Neeson will begin when the Warwick Stakes meeting returns to Warwick Farm in August.Trainer Joe Pride is thrilled with the way the rising four-year-old has returned from his spell after coming of age during the autumn with four wins from six starts culminating in a dominant 4-1/2 length Listed Hawkesbury Guineas win on May 1.Pride doesn't want to put too big an expectation on Neeson for the coming season but suspects he can be the shining light of his

The Epsom Handicap campaign for stakeswinner Neeson will begin when the Warwick Stakes meeting returns to Warwick Farm in August.

Trainer Joe Pride is thrilled with the way the rising four-year-old has returned from his spell after coming of age during the autumn with four wins from six starts culminating in a dominant 4-1/2 length Listed Hawkesbury Guineas win on May 1.

Pride doesn't want to put too big an expectation on Neeson for the coming season but suspects he can be the shining light of his stable's spring carnival assault.

"Put it this way, a couple of the mares rose to a pretty high level last preparation like De Lightning Ridge, Patronyme and Sacred Choice," Pride said.

"I'm not saying we've seen their best but we're closer to seeing their best than we are with Neeson. He's still the one open to the most improvement."

Pride said Neeson returned to work a couple of weeks ago 20 to 30 kilograms heavier and looked fantastic.

"He's come back really well," he said.

"He and Sacred Choice are on the same path, they're going to go first-up into the (Listed)Show County Quality (1200m) which is at Warwick Farm this year on the 21st of August.

"They'll trial at the end of the month (July) and I'm just hoping everything flows along in these early parts of the preparation."

Neeson is scheduled to have three runs before tackling the Group One Epsom (1600m) on October 2 at Randwick.

"And if there's still some petrol left in the tank after that then he'll head down to Melbourne," Pride said.

Stakeswinning mares De Lightning Ridge, Sacred Choice and Patronyme are also pleasing the trainer in the early stages of their spring build-up.

"All three have spelled well, they are all on different sorts of pathways and are different sorts of horses which is handy," the trainer said.

"We'll aim them up in some races here in Sydney and if they are going good then they can head south as well."

De Lightning Ridge won the Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m) in track record time in the autumn and Sacred Choice claimed two stakes races including the Group Two Emancipation Stakes (1600m).

Patronyme was also a dual stakeswinner in the autumn with wins in the Listed Triscay Stakes and also the Birthday Card Stakes at Rosehill where she defeated Beaded and Melito.