Promising two-year-old Sonar 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 Heavy 8 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.”

-Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk