3 minute read

Honest three year old Neona can bring up a fresh up win in today's LV Express Handicap (race 6) at Bairnsdale.

The Mick Price trained gelding has weighed in at all six runs to date and should run another forward race when fresh for today's BM72 over 1000m.

Neona, a son of Ne Coupez Pas, was a 900m winner on debut at Bendigo just over a year ago before finishing runner up at Echuca then headed out for another spell.

He resumed on the all weather at Geelong after a decent break and after drawing wide his jockey Michael Walker decided to go back, settling third last before running on well into fourth.

Next up was a run in town over 1200m at Sandown Lakeside, where he again drew wide but this time, with Damien Oliver aboard, pressed forward.

He had a tough run heading forward when caught deep and working hard to eventually get to the front.

But the early effort told and he faded late to finish fourth but in the end did a very good job to finish only 2.6 length from the winner.

Up to 1300m at Bendigo he yet again drew wide where Oliver sat third but three deep.

He drew to the lead half way up the straight but found one better when a nose second behind Privately.

Last start before another spell, over 1400m at Wangaratta, he drew better and sat just off the speed before looming up but finding one better again in El Supremo.

Neona has been gelded and resumes here without a trial, and although likely to appreciate a bit further later in the campaign looks well placed here fresh.

He has drawn well, Walker knows him well and he has drawn a decent gate.

From gate six he is expected to sit just off the pace and should prove hard to hold out.

The Stephen Theodore trained Bon Genre is coming into this off a fresh up win and looks the hardest to beat.

The lightly raced gelding, won two races last campaign, the latter over 1500m at Cranbourne in this grade.

Beyond that he ran on well to place at Moe before a disappointing run at his last run of the campaign.

That was at Mornington where he took up the running but faded right out of it in the straight and came in near the tail.

He resumed over 1000m at Cranbourne on slow ground, and after settling third loomed up in the straight and ran away with a 2.2 length win.

While a winner up to 1500m last campaign he has won two of his three runs at this trip.

He has also won his only second up run and with good speed in this will be hard to hold out again.

Talented galloper Nate is fitter for one run back and will find this easier.

The gelding was a winner first and second up last campaign before racing in tougher grade throughout the remainder.

He resumed this campaign with a solid eighth, beaten only 2.7 lengths, behind Le Ramas at Sandown Hillside over 1000m.

This is easier and he will be doing his best work again this time.

Biondi has placed at this journey at his last two at Cranbourne and should give a good sight on the speed.