Don’t worry about his form!
They were the ominous words from trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith ahead of Famous Seamus’ assignment in the Group 2 Victory Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Famous Seamus, weather permitting, will return to the scene of his greatest triumph when he claimed the Group 1 BTC Cup at Doomben in 2014 after finishing fifth to Temple Of Boom in the Victory Stakes.
Now a seven-year-old, Famous Seamus is one of only two runners in the Victory Stakes who has earned more than $1 million in prizemoney.
A winner of 11 of his 47 starts, Famous Seamus is the top money earner in the field with $1.22 million in prizemoney, just ahead of the Tony Gollan-trained Fontelina with $1.09 million.
Mayfield-Smith is keen to return for the Queensland winter carnival but has issued a warning.
“It all depends on the weather. If it’s no good he won’t go,” he said.
“But don’t worry about his form. Have a look at the tracks he’s been running on.
“As soon as he hits a shifting track he’s no good in the going.”
Famous Seamus failed at his last appearance on a soft track at Randwick when he beat only two runners home behind Chautauqua in the Group 1 T J Smith on April 2.
He also failed at his two previous starts at Rosehill and Randwick but Mayfield-Smith doesn’t believe he’s in a form slump.
“He’s the same as what he was when he was a four and five-year-old,” Mayfield-Smith said.
“His weight is terrific and he’s been working well.”
Mayfield-Smith has booked Brisbane rider Ryan Wiggins who claimed his only Group 1 on the sprinter in the 2014 BTC Cup.
Famous Seamus broke a dry spell when he won the Group 3 Heffernan Stakes at Sandown last spring – his first win since the Group 2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick in 2014.
The Victory Stakes has attracted a small but quality field including Canberra sprinter Fell Swoop, who was runner-up to Chautauqua in the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes.
Jockey Damian Oliver was originally booked for the ride but was suspended at Flemington on Monday enabling Jay Ford to deputise.
– Racing Queensland
