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Captain Sonador on trial for Cox Plate

Friday 3 September 2010
By Glenn Davis

There's a few hurdles to overcome but trainer Roger Milne isn't running scared of a possible Cox Plate clash between Captain Sonador and his long-time rival Shoot Out.

Captain Sonador will make his comeback in Saturday's Coca-Cola Amatil Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm after undergoing surgery to both front knees following his sixth in the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) in March.

"He was stripped behind but we later found he required surgery to remove chips in both his front knees," Milne said.

"He's coming along well now and if he runs well first-up he'll go to Sydney and run in the Shannon Stakes and hopefully the Epsom.

"I've nominated him for the Cox Plate but he'd have to win one or both of his Sydney starts to warrant taking him to Melbourne."

The Group Two Shannon Stakes (1500m) will be run at Rosehill on September 18, a fortnight before the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

Captain Sonador has finished behind Shoot Out all three times they've met but Milne isn't frightened of another clash in next month's Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

Shoot Out, the subsequent AJC Australian Derby winner, had the measure of Captain Sonador in the Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast in January and in the Group One Randwick Guineas and Group Two Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill during the autumn.

"My horse had bad knees every time we've met Shoot Out and there's only been a length or two between them each time," Milne said.

"The day Shoot Out beat us home in the Magic Millions Trophy, Captain Sonador had no luck and was held up for a run for almost the length of the straight."

Shoot Out finished third to Graceful Anna with Captain Sonador sixth in the Magic Millions Trophy.

Milne said Bahram Stud principal Greg Wagner, who owns Captain Sonador, was keen to win a Group One to boost the entire's value at stud.

Captain Sonador's stud value increased after being placed at Group One level when third to Shoot Out in the Randwick Guineas.

"Greg's priority at this stage is to win a Group One with him," Milne said.

Milne believes Captain Sonador is forward enough to win first-up following an impressive barrier trial win at Doomben last week.

"He's won first-up before and on his trial win he should be hard to beat," he said.