Sonar has black-type on his radar

Promising two-year-old Sonar (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) has black-type on his radar and he could attain it this week when he heads to Otaki on Thursday to contest the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m).

Bred by The Oaks Stud, Sonar is raced by farm principal Dick Karreman, whose silks were carried to victory aboard Sonar’s half-sister Tempest Moon at Murtoa, Australia, on Saturday when recording expat Kiwi Dean Williams’ first win as a trainer.

Sonar has shown plenty of ability on the track to date, winning a 1000m trial at Avondale last month before winning on debut over 1150m at Te Aroha on a Heavy8 track at the start of this month.

Trainer Debbie Sweeney has been pleased with his progression since his debut run and she is looking forward to testing him at stakes level for the first time on Thursday.

“He has worked really well and I couldn’t be any happier with him,” she said.

“He was a little bit green at Te Aroha when he won but it was a gutsy win from him and Lynsey (Satherley, jockey) changed her whip over and it was a good ride from her as well.”

Otaki’s track is currently rated a Heavy10, but that poses no concerns for Sweeney.

“On his work, I don’t think it (Heavy10) will worry him,” she said. “You never know, but he got through the run at Te Aroha so he should be okay in it.”

Depending on Thursday’s performance, Sonar could be set for some lucrative spring targets.

“We will just get through Thursday and see what Rick Williams (Karreman’s racing manager) decides what they are going to do with him,” Sweeney said. “If he goes nice enough, he will be targeting those nicer three-year-old races.”

A day prior, Sweeney will head to Cambridge’s synthetic meeting with just the one runner – Toss (NZ) (Swiss Ace) in the TCL Earthworks 1300.

The Swiss Ace filly has run fourth and fifth in her two starts to date and Sweeney is confident of seeing an improved result at the midweek meeting.

“She has only had the two starts and has shown a bit of promise,” Sweeney said. “She has got a nice draw on Wednesday so she should be a good chance.”

Meanwhile, Sweeney said her stakes-winning filly Tellum (NZ) (Ocean Park) isn’t far away from a return.

The three-year-old daughter of Ocean Park made an impact this season when winning three races, including the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, but her campaign was curtailed shortly after following the findings of a scan.

“She was getting ready to go to Wellington and she pulled up a bit scratchy after working one morning so she went through a few tests and we were advised to give her a break,” Sweeney said.

“They did a scintigraphy scan and didn’t find a lot, just a couple of little things, so we just gave her time to mature.”

Sweeney has been pleased with the way Tellum is coming up and said the rising four-year-old will likely be seen at the trials towards the end of next month before being set for some stakes assignments over the Spring Carnival.

“She spent a month at the water walker and she is coming along nicely,” Sweeney said. “She looks good and has strengthened up a little bit, and I am really happy with her.

“She will hopefully be trialling at the end of August. It just depends on how she comes up, but we are looking at some of those nicer races at the Hawke’s Bay Carnival.”