Famous Seamus trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith unconcerned by wide barrier draw

NOEL Mayfield-Smith can see some positives in the seemingly disastrous George Moore Stakes draw for his top sprinter Famous Seamus.

Mayfield-Smith is expecting the inside of the track to be pretty worn by the time Famous Seamus runs.

NOEL Mayfield-Smith can see some positives in the seemingly disastrous George Moore Stakes draw for his top sprinter Famous Seamus.

The four-time stakes winner has to contend with barrier 18 (16 after emergencies come out) on top of his 60kg impost for the Group 3 feature.

Mayfield-Smith knows there is assured speed with Rocket To Glory and Audacious Spirit coming across from wide gates and he hopes they will spread the field out enough to allow Famous Seamus to get in.

"It's an interesting draw, but before the draw came out I was fearing an inside draw,'' Mayfield-Smith said.

"They have that twilight meeting (today). I know they will move the rail, but still, by the time they get to this race (tomorrow), there will have been plenty of traffic on the track.

"At least you have options out there. He's a horse that can go forward or back, although I shudder when anyone leads on him.

"In the Premiere he came from second-last and he did the same in his Lightning win. Then of course he box seated when he won those two races in Queensland during the winter.''

Gillian Heinrich is committed to running Audacious Spirit, despite coming up with gate 16.

"What do you do?'' she said. "These are the only suitable three races for him this time in and if I don't run here it messes up his preparation for the Lough Neagh.''

Rocket To Glory has had a recent jumpout, satisfying stewards he is fit to race again after running off the track at his most recent appearance.

Trainer Tony Gollan expects Rocket To Glory to lead easily and give his rivals something to chase.

Topweights have a reasonable record in the 20 years since the George Moore (Summer Stakes) attained black type status.

Chief De Beers, Make Mine Magic, Takeover Target and Burdekin Blues were all successful with 58kg or more.

However, fixed odds operators have been keen to gamble against Famous Seamus ($6 to $9.50), with the bulk of early money coming for Cape Kidnappers, who was $4.20 to $2.90 with tab.com.au in the first few hours of betting on Wednesday.

■ RACING Queensland has confirmed Albion Park will be given a $15 million facelift as part of Phase Two in the Industry Infrastructure Strategy.

Albion Park and a $7 million upgrade for Cluden Park in Townsville were confirmed by RQ yesterday.

Albion Park will build new patron facilities including a restaurant, a judge's and racecaller's box and improved stabling facilities.

Cluden Park's turf track will be rebuilt to withstand sub-tropical weather. Business case submissions for a new $10 million harness facility on the Gold Coast and a $12 million greyhound development at Logan, which were announced in September, will be put to the government in coming weeks.