Racing: More Than Great to race in blinkers for first time

SYDNEY - More Than Great will wear blinkers for the first time in his bid to exact revenge on last-start conqueror Shoot Out in the group two Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill tomorrow.

Shoot Out nailed him by a nose in a deceptive finish to the Royal Sovereign Stakes with most onlookers believing the David Payne-trained colt had clung to a narrow victory.

Payne also thought his 3-year-old had held on and felt More Than Great cost himself a win by being reluctant to go past eventual third placegetter Viking Legend.

The former champion South African trainer is hoping the addition of shades at Rosehill will help More Than Great concentrate and finish his race off.

"He's worked in them a couple of times and he's gone well. He seems to be a bit more focused with them on."

More Than Great has been competitive with the best of his generation winning three of his nine starts, while his minor placings have included a second to star colt Denman in the Run To The Rose last August.

A month later, he denied So You Think to win the listed Ming Dynasty Quality by a nose.

Tomorrow, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Manhattan Rain will be among his opponents after being beaten as odds-on favourite in the Royal Sovereign Stakes when he blew the start.

While More Than Great might not have the reputation of some of his rivals, Payne believes he has the ability and if punters want to underestimate his charge it doesn't bother him. "He's beaten So You Think, he ran a nose second to Shoot Out. I think people underrate him a bit.

"But most of my horses fly under the radar and that's fine by me."

The Hobartville is the second step on a traditional path towards the group one Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 13, but More Than Great won't press on to the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) or the AJC Derby (2400m).

If he holds his form at his next two starts, the Doncaster Mile is the race Payne has in his sights.

"He won't go more than 1600m I don't think, so if it all goes well and he steps up he might go for the Doncaster," Payne said.

More Than Great will have to overcome a wide draw in 12 tomorrow, with Shoot Out to jump from eight and Manhattan Rain five.

- AAP