Stradbroke Ambitions for Famous Seamus (NZ)

The Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap is now on the cards for Famous Seamus (NZ) who won Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Prime Minister's Cup (1300m) on the Gold Coast, completing a stakes double for his sire Elusive City.

The win was immediately followed by another New Zealand victor when Lights of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel x I’m in Heaven) won the feature A$350,000 Group 2 AD Hollindale Stakes for Peter Moody and owner Judy Wanless.

Famous Seamus could now be heading for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap

The Noel Mayfield-Smith trained Famous Seamus (Elusive City x Clinique) is racing in career best form with Saturday’s win his third at stakes level and his second in a row after winning the Listed Aphs Hinkler Handicap at his last start at Eagle Farm.

Ridden by Glen Colless on Saturday, the four-year-old raced just off the speed and stuck to the rails on the home corner, taking him to the lead 200 metres from the post where he held off rival River Lad to win by a neck.

Noel Mayfield-Smith has trained a Group 1 Stradbroke winner in the past in Landsighting and believes that the son of Elusive City is capable of being his second winner in the famous race. Mayfield-Smith will either trial Famous Seamusor target the Group 3 BRC Sprint before heading to the Stradbroke.

Famous Seamus was bred by Keltern Stud & Trelawney Thoroughbreds, is raced by Mr J Simpson and Mrs J D Simpson and has won seven of his 17 starts for A$372,250 in stakes.

The gelding was purchased by Flagtown Pty Ltd from Trelawney Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2010 Karaka Select Sale for $70,000.

Famous Seamus completed a stakes double for his sire Elusive City with Kekova winning the Listed Great Easter Stakes at Riccarton earlier on Saturday. Formerly standing at Haunui Farm in Auckland, Elusive City’s last southern hemisphere crop are just yearlings.

Last season Elusive City finished sixth on the Hong Kong Premiership by number of wins with 16 from 18 runners. This season the son of Elusive Quality is currently sitting second-equal by wins in Hong Kong behind Keeper.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale will be held at Karaka from this Wednesday 8 May to Friday 10 May from 10am each day. To view the catalogue online, click here.