While the attention is on the return of Lankan Rupee, a horse which almost beat him in the Manikato Stakes has had a low-key barrier trial at Hawkesbury.
Famous Seamus finished third in the Group One sprint at Moonee Valley last October, beaten a short head and a nose in a bunched finish to a roughly run race with many tales of woe.
Tim Clark was unsuccessful in a protest against Lankan Rupee’s rider Craig Newitt.
The reigning Horse of the Year, Lankan Rupee begins his latest campaign in Saturday’s Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington after ending the spring with third place in the Darley Classic in which Famous Seamus was sixth.
Trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith has mapped out a program for Famous Seamus but the weather will dictate if it comes to fruition.
“He ran a nice third in the trial after getting a long way back early,” Mayfield-Smith said.
“He was still last at the 600 metres and I was bit concerned but he picked up and worked home well which is what I wanted to see.
“The plan is to start off in the Challenge Stakes and then go to the Galaxy but he is no good on wet tracks so things could change.
“The William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley is on the program. We know he can handle the track.
“And there is also Brisbane after that.”
Famous Seamus finally proved his trainer right with his win in last year’s BTC Cup when he beat Spirit Of Boom and Buffering to claim his first Group One trophy.
Last autumn, he finished third behind Villa Verde and Snitzerland in the Group Two Challenge Stakes before striking wet tracks in the Galaxy and TJ Smith Stakes.
