Owner Greg Wagner is close to finalising a stud deal for Epsom Handicap winner Captain Sonador who will have a barrier trial at Doomben next week ahead of his upcoming Doncaster Mile campaign in Sydney.Trainer Roger Milne revealed a Queensland stud was now the frontrunner 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 Sydney, in the Group One George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill and Group One Doncaster Mile at Randwick in Apr
Owner Greg Wagner is close to finalising a stud deal for Epsom Handicap winner Captain Sonador who will have a barrier trial at Doomben next week ahead of his upcoming Doncaster Mile campaign in Sydney.
Trainer Roger Milne revealed a Queensland stud was now the frontrunner 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 Sydney, in the Group One George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill and Group One Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April.
He will then have two Brisbane runs, in the Group One Doomben 10,000 in May before his swansong in the Group One 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.
"I'd love to take him back to Melbourne for the spring but he's not going there unless the stud deal falls over for some reason.
"I'm fairly confident the deal will be completed before he has his next start in the Gold Coast Stakes."
Captain Sonador hasn't raced since finishing third to Bold Glance in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast last month.
It followed the son of Shamardal's stunning victory in the Listed Goldmarket Handicap (1300m) at the Gold Coast on January 3.
Milne believed Captain Sonador should have won the Magic Millions Cup when ridden by Glen Boss.
"It was a great run. When the pace slackened at the 900 metres he was galloped on from behind," he said.
"He lost about two lengths in the incident and he was only beaten just over half a length.
"I've got no doubt it cost him the race."
Milne warned autumn carnival rivals that Captain Sonador was in better shape now than when he claimed the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick last October.
Following his upset Epsom victory, Captain Sonador failed in the Cox Plate and Emirates Stakes in Melbourne when plagued by feet problems.
"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.
"He'll have a barrier trial at Doomben next Tuesday and Shane Scriven will ride him in the Gold Coast Stakes next start."
The $100,000 Gold Coast Stakes (1200m) on March 19 has a maximum topweight of 61 kilograms.