Ahooshu aiming for Brisbane return

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Graeme Green is planning another throw at the stumps in Brisbane with talented sprinter Ahooshu if the gelding continues his excellent strike rate at Townsville on Thursday.

Ahooshu has started six times for three wins and as many placings and is attempting to claim his third win in succession in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1200 metres at Cluden Park.

Green was keen to give Ahooshu his chance in Brisbane last Saturday but scratched the son of Better Than Ready after he drew badly.

“He drew barrier 10 at Eagle Farm last week but you can’t draw wide at the 1000-metre start so I scratched him,” Green said.

Green’s biggest concern is how Ahooshu handles the float trip from his Rockhampton base to Townsville.

“He left today and so long as he travels well, he should perform very strongly,” Green said.

“If his form continues, he’ll go to Brisbane for a race over 1200 metres at Doomben on October 2.”  

Ahooshu is unbeaten in two starts this campaign, winning over 1100 metres at Mackay in July before leading all the way over 1200 metres when he lumped 60.5kgs at Rockhampton on August 19.

Green has retained regular rider Chris Whiteley despite the gelding receiving an extra one kilogram from the handicapper.

“He’s in good form and has carried big weights in all his wins,” Green said.

“I’m not concerned about the extra kilo.

“He caried 60.5kgs over 1200 metres when he won last start at Rocky and ran exceptional time clocking a tick over 1 minute 9 seconds.”

Green also detailed how his two stable stars - Master Jamie and Ahooshu - came to be named. 

“Master Jamie is the main actor in the television series Outlander and Ahooshu is Master Jamie’s grandson and is Gaelic for Of My Blood,” Green said.

Green was reluctant to compare Ahooshu with his star Master Jamie, who has won $611,000 in prizemoney with 14 wins and six placings from 29 starts.

Ahooshu has earned more than $176,000 in prizemoney in only six starts.

“I can’t compare them yet but prizemoney-wise Ahooshu is doing better than Master Jamie at the same stage of their careers,” Green said.

“It's helped Ahooshu’s prizemoney when he ran second in the QTIS Jewel at the Gold Coast.”