Group winner Turnitup owes his new trainer Lawrie Mayfield-Smith a win for more reasons than one.

Turnitup, who returns to the scene of his biggest success when he runs at Doomben on Saturday, literally owes Mayfield-Smith his life, twice.

Mayfield-Smith explained his friend, owner-breeder Gino Loiero, was looking for a stallion in 2005 to put over his mare No Finding.

Loireo and Mayfield-Smith have enjoyed a long association and just missed winning the 1996 Queensland Oaks with Sonata who finished a half head behind Arctic Scent.

Mayfield-Smith said he suggested to Loiero that he put No Finding to Dane Shadow and one of the resulting foals was Turnitup.

Troy Hall originally trained Turnitup and the gelding then went to Peter Moody at Caulfield in Melbourne.

Turnitup won the 2011 Group Three Grand Prix at Doomben under Moody but has not raced since he finished last in the 2012 Bernborough Handicap after which he was found to have an injury.

"Gino rang me and said Turnitup had some leg problems and they were thinking of putting him down," Mayfield-Smith said.

"But I talked them into sending him up here to the University of Queensland vet school."

"They did a bit of scraping and since I've had him he has never had a lame day.

"So you might say he has owed me his life twice and he might like to repay me with a win."

Turnitup will tackle the Sono Restaurant Mail Open Handicap (1350m) on the back of a fifth in an Eagle Farm trial on August 21.

"It will probably be too short for him on Saturday," Mayfield-Smith said.

"These old horses usually need a run or two after a spell and I think he will be better when the trips get out to 1400 metres and further."

Mayfield Smith also has talented sprinter Star Sammy resuming in the Sky International Hcp (1200m).

The winner of six of his 16 starts, Star Sammy won an Eagle Farm barrier trial last week ahead of his return.