Time for promising pacer to ‘step up’

THERE are major Group One plans afoot for Western Sonador after the rising star captured last night’s Minuteman Free-For-All in Geelong.

Rebecca Bartley, who trains in partnership with Stephen O’Donohue, produced a cool front-running drive with the five-year-old which he showed his best to take out the $24,000 feature.

Next week’s $100,000 VHRC Caduceus Classic in Bendigo shapes as the first key feature of the preparation for the son of Western Terror, which is being lined up for a number of other majors in coming weeks and months.

“Of course, the Victoria Cup and the Kilmore Cup before that, but we’ll probably head to Sydney with the Inter at the end of the year,” Bartley said.

“Hopefully they go ahead and I think he’ll handle the series really well.”

Western Sonador zipped home in a 27.9-second last quarter to hold off a wall of rivals, headed by Aaron Dunn’s Silent Major and Wolf Stride, who performed well first-up for new trainer Andy Gath.

Bartley said her gelding’s manners had improved significantly from previous campaigns.

“He’s settled down a lot in the stabling area now. We always knew if he settled down, he’d take the next step,” Bartley said.

“The horse he was in Sydney (during February and March), he was just completely opposite.

“He had a break, it’s done him the world of good and he’s really settled down now. He’s just lovely to be around.”

• HRV Media