Owner of Epsom Handicap winner ‘Captain Sonador’, Greg Wagner, is close to finalising a stud deal ahead of his upcoming Group 1 campaign in Sydney.
Roger Milne, who trains Captain Sonador, revealed a Queensland stud was now the front-runner to secure a 50 per cent stake in Captain Sonador for the next breeding season.
The four year old will have only two runs in a brief Autumn campaign, appearing in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill and the time honoured Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April.
He will then have two Brisbane runs, in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 in May before his finale in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June.
“The stud people are coming to have a look over him today and if the deal goes through he’ll have his final run in the Stradbroke”, Milne said.
Milne warned autumn carnival rivals that Captain Sonador was in better shape now than when he claimed the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick last October.
“I think he’s a better horse now than when he won the Epsom”, Milne said.
“He’s a lot stronger and is getting better with age”.
Captain Sonador has raced 27 times for 6 wins and upwards of $700,000 in prizemoney.
Written by Isaac Chaplin