A disastrous trip to Melbourne a year ago with Famous Seamus won't stop trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith trying again if the sprinter performs to expectations in his defence of Saturday's Lightning Handicap at Randwick.

Mayfield-Smith said he learned a lot about Famous Seamus from the 2012 experience when the horse was unplaced in a Listed sprint at Flemington.

Famous Seamus was unhappy in his environment but performed better during his next trip away with two Listed wins in Brisbane during the winter.

He is the equal topweight with Rarefied on 59kg in the City Tattersall's Lightning (1100m) and will be ridden by Tim Clark who was aboard for his last-start third in the Group Three Premiere Stakes (1200m) in a three-way finish with Arinosa and Dystopia.

"It was an exceptionally good run last time," Mayfield-Smith said.

"He drew the outside and had to race without cover down the side. He's come out of the race extremely well.

"Once we get Saturday out of the way we'll talk about where to go next but there is a race at the end of the Melbourne carnival which suits.

The race under consideration is the Group Three Sandown Stakes (1400m) on November 16 which is at Caulfield while Sandown undergoes renovations.

Mayfield-Smith said it would be a quick trip if Famous Seamus went south.

"I'm reluctant about Melbourne because he went to pieces last time," he said.

"He was much happier in Brisbane where the on-course stabling was more open and he could see the other horses and he also found himself a mate.

"He's a funny horse and if we go back to Melbourne we will go down on the Tuesday and come back Sunday so he isn't there too long."

Future plans for Famous Seamus include next year's Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane in which he was unplaced this year after losing a shoe.

Mayfield-Smith makes no secret of the fact he regards Famous Seamus as a potential Group One winner and ranks him second only to 2000 Stradbroke winner Landsighting among the best he has trained.