Racing: Captain Sonador ready to salute on way to Epsom

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Queensland galloper Captain Sonador has shrugged off a minor injury concern which threatened to derail Epsom Handicap plans.

Captain Sonador, withdrawn from the Shannon Stakes at the weekend, has been cleared by trainer Roger Milne to run in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Milne said the Epsom Handicap (1600m) on October 2 was "definitely" still his main Sydney mission.

"He just had a bit of filling in a leg and a bit of heat. I wasn't prepared to take the risk with him," Milne said yesterday of the 4-year-old's Shannon Stakes scratching.

"Just for safety I had it scanned and it came back clear [on Friday].

"I have got a lot of time for the horse and didn't want to risk him."

The trainer said the problem turned out to be an ointment he used when Captain Sonador's leg blistered.

The Shannon Stakes was won by Cambridge galloper Firebolt, who was elevated to an $11 pick for the Epsom with TAB Sportsbet.

Captain Sonador, $21 in the Epsom market, performed admirably in Sydney during the autumn, including a third in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) behind fellow Queenslander Shoot Out and another minor placing in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m).

His only other Sydney appearance saw him finish sixth in the group one Rosehill Guineas (2000m) when he was injured and subsequently spelled.

He had surgery to remove bone chips from his front knees following the Sydney autumn carnival and returned with a first-up win in a 1200m race at Doomben earlier this month.

"He's come back now and is racing pain-free for the first time in his life," Milne said.

"What he did in his first trial and his first-up run, shows he's as good as ever. I'm pretty confident he'll be competitive in anything I put him in."

Captain Sonador's performances in Sydney will determine whether Milne continues to head south after the Epsom, to contest the Cox Plate.

There were 20 entries for the Bill Ritchie - a group two race which allows the winner to beat the Epsom ballot while escaping a weight penalty for the famous mile.

- AAP