Lawrie Mayfield-Smith hopes former rogue Danagaze can help repay some debts by giving the trainer his third Ipswich Cup on Saturday.Mayfield-Smith has sacked Danagaze several times during the gelding's career before agreeing to give him another chance as a favour for his owners."He's always been a bit of a lad and I think I've sacked him about four times but I ended up keeping him each time as a favour to his owners," Mayfield-Smith."He used to throw his work riders every time he'd walk onto the

Lawrie Mayfield-Smith hopes former rogue Danagaze can help repay some debts by giving the trainer his third Ipswich Cup on Saturday.

Mayfield-Smith has sacked Danagaze several times during the gelding's career before agreeing to give him another chance as a favour for his owners.

"He's always been a bit of a lad and I think I've sacked him about four times but I ended up keeping him each time as a favour to his owners," Mayfield-Smith.

"He used to throw his work riders every time he'd walk onto the track and when he raced in Sydney he'd never settle but now he's a lot more mature.

"The Workcover bills went through the roof at one stage and I thought I'd need to win a Melbourne Cup to pay them."

Mayfield-Smith has booked Andrew Spinks who replaces Sydney's Glyn Schofield on the five-year-old in Saturday's 2150-metre Listed feature.

Danagaze was caught wide and got a long way back last start before finishing fifth to Heartshaker in the Mitty's Plate (1800m) at Eagle Farm on June 4.

Mayfield-Smith is not concerned Danagaze is still eligible for restricted company and believes he has a strong chance at his first middle distance attempt.

"I've won this race twice and got beaten a nose on another occasion," Mayfield-Smith said.

"It's normally a race for lightweights and it doesn't bother me Danagaze is still a Class Five horse."

It's been a long time between drinks for Mayfield-Smith whose last Ipswich Cup win was with Fine Spy in 1996, five years after he won the race for the first time with Appleton Gold.

Mayfield-Smith just missed his Ipswich Cup hat-trick when Reputed Groom was narrowly beaten by Bozeman in 1999.

"Danagaze is as good as either Appleton Gold or Fine Spy so I'm hopeful he can win the race," Mayfield-Smith said.

"When he got beaten at Eagle Farm last start he was caught three and four wide but he was still finding the line."

Mayfield-Smith is also overlooking the son of Intergaze's performance two starts back when only sixth in a field of eight to Firebolt in the Group Three Lord Mayor's Cup (1615m) at Doomben on May 21.

"He won well at Doomben back in April then was placed at the Gold Coast before he ran in the Lord Mayor's Cup," he said.

"That was at weight-for-age and he was never suited in that type of race but he had to run in it as part of his program."

Mayfield-Smith has always been confident Danagaze would run a middle distance.

"His grand-dam is a sister to Kinjite so he should make a stayer later on," he said.

"Appleton Gold was a Class Five horse when he won the Ipswich Cup so I can't see why this bloke can't do the same."