The Stromberg Carlsons have been flying in February and he has a stakes winner in waiting over in Perth.

Sound System (3g Stromberg Carlson – Sarani by Sanction) is overdue for a black-type victory and trainer Quona Cooke is confident he can make the grade in the Listed South-West Breeders’ Classic (1400m) at Bunbury on March 13.

Cooke will give him a pipe-opener in the Westspeed 3YO Hcp (1200m) at Ascot this Saturday.  He has been allocated top-weight of 59.5kg and the hit-out will top him off nicely for the Classic which is worth $95,000.

The gelding has finally drawn a decent barrier at Ascot and the 2kg claim for apprentice Duncan Miller will bring him right into the reckoning.  “Sound System is thriving,” Cooke said from her Upper Swan stables this week.  “He’s been unlucky with wide draws and this Saturday could be the turning point.”

Cooke purchased Sound System for just $10,000 from the Raheen Stud draft at the 2009 Magic Millions QTIS 600 yearling sale and he has since collected over $90,000 in prizemoney.

After a winning hat-trick at Belmont during the winter season, Sound System finished fourth in the G3 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic and Listed Placid Ark Stakes at the Ascot summer carnival.  He was last seen flying home for second spot behind Mister Moneypenny at Ascot on January 8.  He jumped from the outside gate in an 11 horse field and an awkward getaway didn’t help his chances, either.

Cooke will be back at the Gold Coast in April and will make a beeline to inspect the 18 Stromberg Carlson lots catalogued for the Magic Millions QTIS 600 yearling sale.