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Trainer Graeme Green’s retirement plans have been put on hold as his Stradbroke Handicap hope Master Jamie makes his return in the Listed Ascot Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Master Jamie is already qualified for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 12, courtesy of his brilliant win in The Gateway Handicap over 1400 metres in December.
The four-year-old's win earned him a month off in the paddock to prepare for his Stradbroke bid.
He showed he was on target with an easy barrier trial win for apprentice Marnu Potgieter on his home track at Rockhampton last month.
Jockey Taylor Marshall has picked up the ride on Master Jamie, replacing Michael Rodd, who will partner the Tony Gollan-trained Vega One.
"I wanted to get in early to get a jockey but most riders wouldn't commit and eventually I got Taylor Marshall," Graeme Green said.
The 65-year-old believes Master Jamie will be very competitive over 1000 metres first-up.
The four-year-old has won three of his four starts over the trip, while he has an equally good record of three wins from four starts at Eagle Farm.
"I think he'll be very competitive and I don't think we'll change his pattern of racing just yet," Green said.
"Alleys are very important so he should lead from barrier two.
"He's a bit of a bulldog and doesn't like other horses getting past him."
Green keeps a stable of around 10 horses in work in Rockhampton and recently bought a caravan with a view to travelling.
"I was hoping to slow down so I bought a caravan to go travelling around Australia with my wife," Green said.
"But Master Jamie and Ahooshu who placed in the QTIS Jewel last month have changed a few things now.
"I also went to the recent QTIS March Sale at the Gold Coast and bought three lovely yearlings so travelling might have to wait a while."
Green has been involved in the racing industry as a trainer and track manager for most of his life.
"I started training for about 10 to 15 years at Grafton before I moved to the Gold Coast and got a job which I held for about five years as a track maintenance manager," he said.
"I then moved to Rockhampton for 11 years after I got a job as their course manager before going back to Deagon to train for another five years.
"After that I moved back to Rocky to help out the Club with track maintenance and I started to train again."
Winning the Stradbroke Handicap with Master Jamie would be a dream come true for Green, and would add to the prestige of a horse who has won 13 of his 22 starts and banked more than $507,000 in prizemoney.
"It's something you dream about to win a Stradbroke," he said.
"It's the most prestigious race in Queensland and to win it would be something special."
