12 January 2024 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL DUMESNY
FORMER New Zealand pacer Neptune will look to keep his impressive winning record intact when he contests Saturday night’s $30,600 New Years Gift Final tomorrow at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Purchased midway through last year by Menangle’s Lucky Lodge for a syndicate that includes some of their regular owners, the four-year-old by champion stallion Bettors Delight has won six of his 11 race starts in Australia, including his past three in succession.
Blessed with an abundance of gate speed, Neptune has led at his past two Menangle outings and was impressive in scoring by a half-length in his qualifying heat of the New Years Gift last Saturday after maintaining a clear advantage throughout.
Regular driver Robbie Morris, who also has a share in Neptune, is happy with the way the horse is progressing and believes he has the attributes to race his way through to open metropolitan class.
“He is a lovely big, strong horse,” said Morris.
“I cannot fault the way he has come back from a spell, proven by how well he is racing.
“His win last Saturday night was really pleasing.
“I had to hustle him off the arm to find the front, but once there he just cruised along and found plenty in the run home to hold off Theresa Love, who had the sitting shot at him.
“It will be an interesting final as there are some very nice up-and-coming horses in the field that are in good form.
“But from his gate one draw, I am confident he can hold up and be there again at the finish.
“He definitely has what it takes to continue racing consistently in metropolitan company as he gives me the feeling that he will get better with racing.”
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