Famous Seamus Ready For Tramway
- Tuesday, 01 September 2015 08:45
Jockey Glyn Schofield's enthusiasm about Famous Seamus after a gallop at Hawkesbury has delighted trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith heading into Tramway Stakes.
Schofield made the trip to the trainer's base on Tuesday morning to partner the seven-year-old in a course proper work-out ahead of Saturday's Group Two 1400m-race at Randwick.
Mayfield-Smith found himself without a rider when Danny Beasley was sidelined by injury and the trainer was also forced to re-think the gelding's program because of changes to the date and distance of the Moir Stakes in Melbourne.
"I had already worked out his program early but then it was tipped upside down when they changed the Moir Stakes," Mayfield-Smith said.
"It stuffed everything so I had to start again.
"He wasn't ready for the Missile Stakes but he is ready now and Glyn Schofield was amazed by how good he felt."
The Group One Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley is a week later than usual on October 2 but more importantly has been shortened from 1200 to 1000 metres.
Famous Seamus, winner of the 2014 BTC Cup, is one of 25 entries for the Tramway which will determine his spring path.
"If he runs a strong 1400 metres on Saturday he might go up to 1500 metres in the Shannon at Rosehill later in the month," Mayfield-Smith said.
"If not he can come back in distance to the Premiere Stakes.
"Then it is on course to the Manikato Stakes."
Famous Seamus finished third in last year's Manikato in his first start at Moonee Valley, a track not all horses handle.
But he will be kept away from straight racing at Flemington.
"He has trouble getting his bearings down the straight. He seems to get lost," Mayfield-Smith said.
First Seal is also scheduled to get her spring back on track in the Tramway after missing her scheduled return in the Warwick Stakes with a foot abscess.
