John O’Shea has a great strike-rate with Vinery sire More Than Ready and the winners kept coming at Canterbury on Wednesday.

His promising filly More Than Faith was more than a match for older mares in the Ranvet Hcp (1200m).  Always in touch with the leaders, she got the better of a duel with Fastnet Rock four year-old Chatham House to score by a half-length.

“She had made dramatic improvement since her last start,” O’Shea said.  “I was very happy with her heading into the race.”

More Than Faith (3f More Than Ready – Faith Hill by Danehill) was a debut winner at Kembla on August 3 but was unlucky second-up at Canterbury on August 21.  “She ran a game race last time after sitting three and four deep,” O’Shea explained.  “She only needed luck in running from an awkward draw and James (McDonald) did well to get cover.”

O’Shea and More Than Ready have combined for feature victories with Olonana (2009 Challenge Stakes), Elite Falls (2011 Reisling Slipper Trial) and Ashokan (2012 Skyline Stakes).

More Than Faith joins Elite Falls and Ashokan in a long line of winners for the More Than Ready – Danehill sireline cross and O’Shea thinks she has a future, too.  “She went super today.  She has a brilliant turn of foot and is a very progressive filly.”

Her dam Faith Hill won the G2 Emancipation Stakes in 2003 and has a perfect record at stud starting with Brisbane stakes winner Black Minx (Lonhro).

More Than Faith is raced by John Leaver and Ron Finemore after changing hands for $360,000 at the 2012 Inglis Easter yearling sale.  That was a profitable mark-up for breeder Jason Abrahams who has been a staunch client of the O’Shea stable.

The pair had a ground-breaking year in 2010 winning Group 1 races with the Zabeel stayers Jessicabeel (Sydney Cup) and Zabrasive (Rosehill Guineas).

Their next More Than Ready is a 2yo colt out of Moonee Valley G3 winner Corton Charlemagne who has just been named Grenache.

Champion sire More Than Ready stands at Vinery for a $99,000 (inc gst) service fee.

– Karl Patterson