Top jockey Corey Brown missed out on three feature weekends during the autumn carnival but hopes to make up for lost time in Brisbane on Saturday.
Brown was hit with back-to-back suspensions for careless riding last month which ruled the hoop out of both Doncaster Day and Sydney Cup Day at Randwick.
He also missed last week’s Hawkesbury feature meeting.
Brown returned from his ban at Wyong on Thursday and will partner Neeson for Joe Pride in Saturday’s Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben.
“It’s great to be back. I started back yesterday and it was good to get back but I nearly had to get the textbook out to learn how to pack my race bag it’s been that long,” he said.
Brown missed crucial rides during the carnival and said it was frustrating to watch from the sidelines.
“It’s Sydney’s grand final,” he said of the autumn carnival.
“You work hard all year and prepare yourself going into it and then to have it all taken away from you and be sitting at home is disappointing.
“In hindsight, I didn’t miss out on too much but I’d rather be out there riding them myself than watching someone else riding them.
“It’s like playing all year and then missing out on playing the grand final, so to speak.”
Brown has formed a strong combination with trainer Joe Pride over the years and has won a Group One for the trainer on Sacred Choice and is the regular partner of exciting sprinter Rain Affair.
“I’m really happy to be on Neeson,” Brown said.
“He’s quality horse and I think it will suit him down to the ground. The way that he races I reckon he’ll love getting to Doomben.”
Neeson is equal second favourite for the BTC Cup behind Buffering who threw a scare into the camp on Friday when he was found to have a stone bruise.
Trainer Rob Heathcote was hopeful on Friday afternoon there was a better than 50 per cent chance he would run.
“Obviously Buffering is the horse to beat but I know my horse has got enough ability to beat him,” Brown said.
Brown is also looking forward to partnering favourite Angel Of Mercy in the Channel Seven Benchmark 90 Handicap (1600m) following the filly’s win at Randwick last start with Craig Williams aboard.
