An unusual bit of luck at the barrier draw could help Hawkesbury sprinter Famous Seamus win his second Group One of the winter carnival on Saturday.
Famous Seamus drew alley 10 in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) field of 18 but after emergencies come out is likely to start from an ideal barrier seven at Eagle Farm.
There is no doubt Famous Seamus was the hard luck story of the Doomben 10,000 two weeks ago when he was crunched while making a run at the 300m mark.
It has been the story of Famous Seamus’s two visits to Brisbane winter carnivals.
Famous Seamus has won three feature races in Brisbane in the past two seasons including the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) on May 10.
Along the way he has also had more than his share of bad luck with interference and unsuitable tracks.
Trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith couldn’t be happier with the draw which he believes gives him a genuine chance of winning a second Stradbroke.
“He should be able to get the perfect sit from that barrier and will just need a bit of luck in the straight,” Mayfield-Smith said.
However, Mayfield-Smith revealed but for fate it could have been a vastly different story.
The Brisbane race Club has an unusual scheme to draw Stradbroke barriers which involves random horses being drawn and then connections selecting a cap which contains a barrier number.
“I was second last to pick a cap. I had my eye on two caps but they both went earlier which was lucky because they were barriers 21 and 23,” he said.
Mayfield-Smith has no doubt that Famous Seamus is a much better horse than when he finished 13th behind Linton in last year’s Stradbroke.
“He is stronger and tougher. I wouldn’t take too much notice of the Stradbroke run last year as he wasn’t suited by the shifty track and he lost a shoe,” the Hawkesbury trainer said.
Mayfield-Smith won the Stradbroke with Landsighting in 2000 but believes Famous Seamus is a different style of horse.
“Landsighting only had 49.5kgs and snuck into the race. Famous Seamus has earned his place and he is tough seasoned sprinter now.”
Jockey Ryan Wiggins retains the Famous Seamus ride and is looking forward to a chance at redemption in the race.
“We had no luck in the 10,000 and I think you will see the real Famous Seamus on Saturday.”