A rain-affected surface for Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting has buoyed the spirits of Neeson’s trainer Joe Pride.
Pride has kept alive hopes of Neeson joining stablemate Tiger Tees in Saturday week’s $1 million Stradbroke Handicap and is expecting the multiple stakeswinner to stand up and be counted in the Group Two QTC Cup (1300m).
Neeson has topweight of 59kg and barrier 17 to contend with but Pride isn’t concerned.
“I’m not too worried about the barrier. I think the wet track is going to offset that,” Pride said.
“I’m just more than happy to see him get on a wet track. He’s never missed a place on slow or heavy ground and that’s his go. He’s going to get it on Saturday.”
Neeson performed well without winning during the Sydney autumn carnival but failed in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) last start when coming in eighth on a good-rated track which Pride said was too firm for the gelding.
“I’m not complaining about the way they prepared the track, it was fine. It just didn’t suit him,” he said.
Neeson is among 37 horses still in contention for the Stradbroke after first acceptances were taken this week and he would be safely in the field should Pride decide to back him up.
“I’ve kept that alive. He may well stay up there all week next week and run in the Stradbroke.
“I’m more than happy with him. I think he’s got another run or two left in him (this preparation). He had a relatively light autumn and I’m just happy with the way he has come back and done since he has been back in Sydney (after the BTC Cup).”
Neeson is on the fourth line of TAB Sportsbet betting for the QTC Cup at $8 with Torio’s Quest favourite at $4.
Eagle Farm was rated in the slow range on Friday and trainer Brett Partelle said Torio’s Quest wouldn’t line up if the track was rated slow or worse on Saturday.
Neeson will carry 1.5kg more than Torio’s Quest and 5.5kg more than second favourite Riva De Lago.
Pride said Neeson had earned the weight and had a class edge.
“On a wet track I go in confident that he’s going to run really well,” he said.
