Epsom Handicap winner Captain Sonador could face the starter for the last time in the Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Captain Sonador also is nominated for the Group Two Hollindale Stakes but won’t run in the 1800-metre feature.
Trainer Roger Milne has been forced to change plans with Captain Sonador following the four-year-old’s Group One Doncaster Handicap failure last month.
The son of Shamardal finished last in the field of 17 behind Sacred Choice on a heavy track in the famous Randwick feature.
The original plan with Captain Sonador was to return home after the Doncaster and have two more starts at elite level in the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm before retiring to stand at Raheen Stud near Warwick.
Raheen Stud principal Basil Nolan recently bought a significant share in Captain Sonador to stand him at his stud next season.
“The owners have decided to give him an extra run during the winter before he goes to stud,” Milne said.
“The jury is out with him as the owners feel he’s been cheating a little.
“They’ve decided to give him this extra run, so long as the track is okay, but if he doesn’t run well this time then he’ll probably be retired straight away.”
However, Milne has dismissed Captain Sonador’s Doncaster performance when ridden by Melbourne’s Luke Nolen on a heavy track.
“It was a non-event,” Milne said.
“He travelled well until he was asked to let down but he couldn’t let down in the going.
“Luke said he didn’t want to knock him about in case he was going to run in the All-Aged Stakes.
“I thought about the All-Aged but gave it a miss when the track was wet again.”
Milne will make a final decision whether Captain Sonador takes his place in the 1300-metre Prime Minister’s Cup following trackwork on Thursday.
“I’ll know more on Thursday if he’s running or not,” he said.
“If he doesn’t run he’ll start in the BTC Sprint on Saturday week before the 10,000 and Stradbroke.”
Before the Doncaster Handicap, Captain Sonador produced a sound effort to finish eighth, less than three lengths from winner Rangirangdoo in the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 2.
“I thought his run was good in the George Ryder and it was just the heavy track why he ran so bad in the Doncaster,” Milne said.
Captain Sonador has a good record at the Gold Coast where he claimed the Listed Goldmarket Handicap (1300m) in January.
Following his Epsom Handicap triumph, Captain Sonador campaigned twice at Group One level in Melbourne finishing eighth to So You Think in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October and 13th to Wall Street in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington in November.
AAP TURF
