Noel Mayfield-Smith’s Group 1 winning sprinter Famous Seamus booked a trip south to Melbourne for the better spring features after a gutsy win in Sydney’s 2014 Premiere Stakes at Royal Randwick today.

Premiere Stakes winner Famous Seamus will likely run in the 2014 Manikato Stakes next start. Photo: Steve Hart.

One of just seven in the field for this year’s $200,000 Group 2 Bloodstock.com.au Premiere Stakes (1200m) the Elusive City six-year-old was the well backed favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au jumping at a quote of $2.15.

Things didn’t go quite go his way however with Famous Seamus having to go forward and cover ground with jockey Tim Clark knowing in the slowly run race out the back wasn’t the place to be.

“I didn’t think I could win the race being last,” Clark said post-win.

“He began really well and travelled good.

“They were going slow so it made it a little bit easier.”

Normally liking to come off a hot pace, Famous Seamus showed his versatility today and was able to run down the aggressively ridden Gerald Ryan-trained Charlie Boy ($16), who tried to lead all the way, and score by a narrow margin with Wouldn’t It Be Nice ($31) finishing off the trifecta in third.

“He’s their stable star so it’s nice to get another win on him and it’s great for Noel,” the winning hoop said.

“At the end of the day they do a lot of hard work and they deserve it.”

The hard luck story of the Premiere Stakes meanwhile was the Godolphin-owned Generalife forced back and unable to get a clear run as John O’Shea-trained Lonhro gelding returned for the season.

Class prevailed however and nothing could be taken away from the winner who was forced to race three wide without cover throughout before coming up on the inside to get his head in front and salute for the punters, the Group 1 winner too good for his rivals at this level.

“There was no speed on and he’s a horse that likes to come off the speed,” Mayfield-Smith said after the race.

“It was a hard, grinding win and he overcame difficulties.

“He’s a good horse and it’s now onto Melbourne.”

Famous Seamus came into today’s race off a first-up third to Terravista in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) and won for the first time since the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival in May.

Now the Hawkesbury-based Mayfield-Smith will likely give him another shot at Group 1 glory in Melbourne with the horse heading towards the $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night October 24.

He’s also entered for the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s $1 million Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day, November 8.

Get behind today’s Epsom Handicap Day winners next start at the hottest prices online at Ladbrokes.com.au where you’ll also get paid Best Tote or SP + 20% on your winnings for the Epsom this afternoon!

2014 Premier Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Randwick Race 6 – 04/10/2014