Retirement on the backburner for Graeme Green

By Glenn Davis

If it wasn’t for Master Jamie and Ahooshu, Rockhampton trainer Graeme Green would be happily retired and travelling around country.

Green, 66, considered walking away from the training caper two years ago,and bought a caravan in the hope of fulfilling his dream to travel.

That was before Ahooshu burst onto the scene last year, finishing second to Sweet Dolly in the QTIS 2YO Jewel at the Gold Coast.

Ahooshu collected $90,000 in prizemoney in the QTIS 2YO Jewel and returns 12 months later for a shot at the TAB QTIS 3YO Jewel at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Joining him with be the stable flagbearer Master Jamie, who makes his return to metropolitan racing in the $150,000 Gold Jewel over 1400 metres.

“Retirement is on the backburner for a while as I sold my caravan six months ago and got more for it than what I paid for it,” Green said.

“I’ll be at the Magic Millions March sales again as I’ve got strict instructions from some North Queensland owners to buy another two yearlings and my wife, Julie, has given me permission to buy one for myself.

“She’s the minister for finance.”

Green believes Ahooshu can make amends for his unlucky defeat to Sweet Dolly in last year’s QTIS Jewel feature.

“If he had stayed on the fence and on Sweet Dolly’s hip instead of going four wide, he would have beaten her,” Green said.

Ahooshu is a $34 outsider in latest TAB markets for the 3YO feature but Green is hopeful of causing an upset.

The son of Better Than Ready was a $28,000 buy at the Magic Millions March sales in 2020 and has won six of his 12 starts with prize money earnings of $243,000.

“He hasn’t started since he ran third at Doomben on Boxing Day but he goes well fresh and has had two strong trials at home,” Green said.

“He won a trial last time by three lengths against open company sprinters.”

Green is also confident of a strong performance from Master Jamie who drops to a “featherweight” 58kgs but like Ahooshu has also drawn a wide barrier.

“He’s going good and he’s been humping huge weights back home,” Green said.

“He drops 5.5kgs on his last run when he carried 63.5kgs when he ran second at Rocky.

“He should be right in the finish but he might me looking for further and we’re planning to step him up over more ground after this.”