The weight-for-age conditions of the William Reid Stakes is a major factor in Noel Mayfield-Smith's decision to send Famous Seamus to Melbourne.

The trainer scratched the sprinter from the Group One Galaxy at Rosehill on Saturday after he drew a wide gate but the handicap conditions of that race also held less appeal.

Keen to start Famous Seamus in the weight-for-age TJ Smith Stakes during The Championships, Mayfield-Smith felt the William Reid would be a more suitable springboard into the $2.5 million feature at Randwick.

"There were two reasons. There was the prospect of him having a tough run at Rosehill when he drew wide there and the other thing that makes a difference is the other two races (William Reid and TJ Smith) are weight-for-age," Mayfield-Smith said.

"I didn't want to go to the TJ with what might have appeared average form because we'd drawn wide (in the Galaxy) and had no luck in the run."

Famous Seamus was unplaced in both the Galaxy and TJ Smith Stakes last autumn but both races were run on unsuitable rain-affected tracks.

The horse found form when he struck a firmer surface in Brisbane where he posted his maiden Group One victory in the BTC Cup.

While his most important win came at Doomben, it was Moonee Valley that provided the scene for arguably his career-best performance when he finished an unlucky third to Lankan Rupee in the Manikato Stakes last spring.

As such, Mayfield-Smith has no hesitation taking Famous Seamus back there for Friday's William Reid Stakes (1200m) which, like the Manikato, will be held under lights.

The horse will travel down to Melbourne midweek with regular jockey Tim Clark to ride.

Clark would have interrupted his association with Famous Seamus had the horse run in the Galaxy as he opted to partner Avoid Lightning in the sprint.

Unlike Famous Seamus, Avoid Lightning's best form is on wet tracks and she was outgunned on a firm surface at Rosehill when 10th in the Galaxy won by Sweet Idea.

While Famous Seamus will have his next runs in Melbourne and Sydney, Mayfield-Smith hasn't ruled out travelling further north along the eastern seaboard to Brisbane.

The BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000 would be his winter carnival targets.