Trainer Tim Martin was almost speechless after three-year-old Monton caused a major upset in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill in which race favourite Manhattan Rain again disappointed.Martin was forced to scratch Monton from a restricted race at Rosehill a week ago when he had to treat the gelding for a bout of colic after a swimming session on the Thursday afternoon before the race.But it didn't stop the son of Catbird from upstaging his more fancied rivals in the Hobartville, racin

Trainer Tim Martin was almost speechless after three-year-old Monton caused a major upset in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill in which race favourite Manhattan Rain again disappointed.

Martin was forced to scratch Monton from a restricted race at Rosehill a week ago when he had to treat the gelding for a bout of colic after a swimming session on the Thursday afternoon before the race.

But it didn't stop the son of Catbird from upstaging his more fancied rivals in the Hobartville, racing clear on the inside to defeat Queenslanders Shoot Out ($6) by 1-1/2 lengths with Captain Sonador ($41) three-quarters of a length away in third.

"I'm a bit speechless actually, but I knew at the 600-metre mark that he was going to be hard to beat," Martin said.

"I have always had a good opinion of him, he was immature as a two-year-old but gelding him has made all the difference.

"He's more relaxed and more focused. You always hope they can go to this level but you don't know until you put them in it."

Martin said he took the $31 on offer on Saturday believing he was over the odds.

Monton was aided by the inside barrier which allowed jockey Jay Ford to position him in the perfect position behind the speed on the fence.

"At the end of the day it was a big step up in grade but barriers win races," Ford said.

"From the good gate he was able to take up a position. The fence was probably the place to be today and when he got clear he really accelerated and attacked the line."

Race favourite Manhattan Rain ($2.70), who reared up in the barriers in the Royal Sovereign Stakes last start, was backed out of the gates before the Hobartville and was vetted before being passed fit to run.

He jumped well and looked the winner halfway down the straight when he raced to the front but the boom colt was run down inside the final 200m and finished fifth, 2-1/2 lengths from the winner.

Gai Waterhouse said Manhattan Rain would still head to Melbourne and back up against emerging superstar Denman in the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington next Saturday.

"He just needs more racing," Waterhouse said.

Royal Sovereign Stakes winner Shoot Out proved his last-start performance was far from a one-off as he charged home out wide for second.

And his Gold Coast trainer John Wallace believes the gelding is right on target for his Group One missions.

"It was a big run seeing as though they are not making ground today," Wallace said.

"He'll be hard to beat in the (Group One) Randwick Guineas and he might be hard to beat in the (Group One) Doncaster as well. I'm glad I paid the late entry fee to put him in the Doncaster."

Fellow Queensland trainer Roger Milne used Shoot Out as his measuring stick for bringing Captain Sonador to Sydney and was delighted with his third placing.

"He was not far off Shoot Out in the Magic Millions (in January) so we thought we'd give it a go," he said.

"If he pulls up well he'll go to the Randwick Guineas."

West Australian Sir Hallowell, who finished fourth, will also head to the Guineas if he makes the field otherwise trainer David Harrison will start him next in the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) on March 20.