Noel Mayfield-Smith is a realist.
His consistent sprinter Famous Seamus will carry topweight of 60kg in Saturday’s Group Two George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben which Mayfield-Smith expected.
“I would’ve been really happy if he got 59kg but I was realistic and thought he’d get 60kg,” Mayfield-Smith said.
“If you take a line through the Lightning at Randwick, he won that with 59kg and was placed after that in a Group race.
“I don’t think this race is as strong as either of those two races.”
Famous Seamus arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday to prepare for the Moore as Mayfield-Smith works on a strategy to deal with barrier 18.
“I didn’t want to draw 18 but I also didn’t want to draw inside,” Mayfield-Smith said.
“We have two choices. Either scratch or come up with a plan to give him the best opportunity to win from that gate.”
Famous Seamus didn’t disappoint Mayfield-Smith when he finished third to Lankan Rupee at Caulfield on November 16.
“He never handled the track and was on the wrong leg the whole way,” he said.
“If you look at the replay, the front-on shot, he’s got his head on the side and it was only the last 100 metres that he stretched out and got third after it looked as though he wasn’t going to run anywhere.
“He was finishing off quite nicely and I thought if the race was a bit further he probably would’ve run second.”
The Moore will be the only summer start in Brisbane for Famous Seamus but the gelding is likely to make a return visit for next year’s winter carnival.
The gelding won the Hinkler Quality at Eagle Farm and the Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast in May before ending his winter campaign in the Stradbroke Handicap when he ran 13th to Linton.
