Neona Overdue

Monday, 25 June 2012: Consistent galloper Neona can break through for an overdue win in today's Silver Bowl Series Handicap (race 8) at Echuca.

Photo by Racing and Sports

The lightly–raced gelding has placed at his last five starts and looks overdue to win as he tackles heat five of this series which culminates in a rich final at Flemington next month.

Prepared by Mick Price at Caulfield, Neona  was runner up in similar grade at his last two before a spell.

He then resumed over 1000m in this same grade – an RB72, where he sat fifth and eased wider around the bend before running on into second again.

Over 1100m at Ballarat next, carrying 59kg in slightly easier grade, he struck a heavy track.

After sitting second throughout he loomed up at the top of the straight and hit the front but was in turn run down late, again finishing in the placings with a three-quarter length third.

Last start, back in this grade over 1206m at Bairnsdale, he again struck a heavy track and after sitting fourth on the inside yet again loomed up but found a couple better, finishing third.

The gelding tackles the same class again today but may appreciate the firmer footing here.

Despite having placed at both his heavy track runs, his dead track form is better with a win and four seconds from five runs.

He has drawn ideally in barrier two and should appreciate the longer journey here, where he has also placed at his only try.

Overall, from nine starts he is yet to fail to weigh in and he gets the chance to break through today.

The Greg Eurell trained De Triomphe  is fitter for two runs from a spell ad should be hard to hold out despite a wide gate.

The three-year-old resumed this campaign over 1200m at Bairnsdale and after carrying a big weight boxed on well for fourth.

He then tackled open three-year-old class at Flemington and after crossing form a wide gate was caught three deep on the pace.

He turned there and gradually faded after a tough run but did a good job under the circumstances to finish sixth.

He will find this much easier and having been tested and placed to a mile in town over 2000m last campaign should be strong at the end of 1400m in this grade.

He has drawn wide but rates strongly and should go well.

Tasmanian galloper Huon Knight  ran well at his mainland run in this grade last time and looks nicely placed here with a lighter weight.

The gelding won at Hobart over 1200m and Launceston over 1400m before heading across to Victoria and racing in this grade over 1300m at Swan Hill.

There he worked home steadily for a close up fifth when carrying 60kg.

He drops in weight for today's race and despite an awkward gate looks a strong each way chance again.

Gigabyte  won in easier grade at Wodonga two back then gave a sight at Swan Hill latest after doing it tough from a wide gate.

He is poor drawn again but drops in weight and should give a sight here.