Age no barrier for Famous Seamus
Famous Seamus’ trainer says he still has plenty to give in the All Aged Stakes.
A sunny lead-up to the All Aged Stakes won’t be enough to dry the Randwick track as much as trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith would like for Famous Seamus but his stable star will run regardless.
The eight-year-old is the outsider of the field for Saturday’s Group One race, his first start since December and a stepping stone to future assignments over the Brisbane winter carnival.
“He will run. He needs to run to get up and going,” Mayfield-Smith said.
“He has done a lot of work and has had two trials but realistically he has no chance to win on a wet track.
“People will also probably say his trainer is mad running him over 1400 metres first-up as opposed to the 1200 metre race (Hall Mark) but he would have to chase those sprinters hard on a heavy track.
“He is ready for 1400 metres and I’m looking to maybe stretch him out to 1600 metres this time.”
Famous Seamus has been a regular visitor to the Brisbane carnival, winning the Prime Minister’s Cup in 2013 and the Group One BTC Cup the following year.
He has won more than $1.3 million and shows his trainer all the signs he still enjoys his racing.
His first test at 1600 metres could come on his home track with Mayfield-Smith considering the Hawkesbury Gold Cup at the end of the month as a distance test.
“There is plenty of staying ability in his family and as he gets older I think can step up,” he said.
“We might try the Hawkesbury Cup and then go back to Brisbane for the BTC Cup and the Doomben 10,000.
“He shows no signs of wanting to give racing away and I’m pretty happy with his fitness levels.
“He has done a lot of work but I just wish he could have a better track.”
Famous Seamus is the oldest horse in the All Aged Stakes while three-year-old Divine Prophet is the youngest.
Favourite English, who won the race as a three-year-old last year, will need to undergo a precautionary raceday veterinary inspection to take her place after suffering a minor laceration on a hock.