Queensland’s richest Group One race is no longer a comeback target but Brett Dodson isn’t giving up on More Than Great reliving past glories.
“The Stradbroke (Handicap) is out of the equation now,” Dodson said.
“He had to run really well at Scone first-up to go to Brisbane but things didn’t work out.”
Instead, More Than Great will be trying to convince Dodson and some devoted owners he can still cut it at the top when he returns to city racing at Rosehill on Saturday.
A Sydney meeting at the start of winter is a long way removed from the stellar heights More Than Great climbed during his early three-year-old days.
Under the training of David Payne, More Than Great claimed the scalp of the superstar galloper So You Think in a Randwick race in September 2009 – a stirring victory which remains his most recent win.
It’s been a rocky journey since as he eventually found his way into Dodson’s stable.
“Unfortunately he did some damage to his hind leg while he was spelling,” Coffs Harbour-based Dodson said.
“I knew one of the owners and it was decided to send him up to me to rehabilitate on the beach and in the salt water.”
More Than Great had his first start for Dodson when he finished down the track to Motspur in the feature sprint during the Scone Cup carnival.
“Despite the result, you can’t be too critical of the run because he was 13 months off the scene and he has come on,” Dodson said.
Irrespective of how the comeback unfolds, Dodson said More Than Great was assured of a chance at stud.
“He’s by More Than Ready and he’s well bred on his dam’s side,” Dodson said.
“The owners are keen to give him a crack at stud and if I can win a couple of Group races with him that will make him a better proposition as a stallion.”
Apprentice Adam Hyeronimus will ride More Than Great.
More Than Great travelled to Sydney on Monday and worked on one of the Rosehill inner tracks on Tuesday morning.
“By bringing him down early I was hoping to give him a good gallop on the grass but the rain put an end to that idea,” Dodson said.
“I was still able to put him up against one of Tim Martin’s who gets along a bit and he worked nicely.”
AAP TURF
