Old firm team up again with Thisland Is Myland

By Glenn Davis

The old firm of trainer Graeme Green and jockey Les “Bubba” Tilley will reunite when consistent sprinter Thisland Is Myland strives for his first win at Mackay on Tuesday.

Green and Tilley have been a strong force in Central Queensland in recent years, notably with Rockhampton's top sprinter Master Jamie and will team up again in the QTIS Class 4 Handicap over 1300 metres.

Tilley has ridden Master Jamie 25 times for 10 wins in his 49-start career including the Rockhampton Cup over 1600 metres at Callaghan Park in July last year.

Thisland Is Myland started his career with former Gold Coast trainer Michal Costa, winning a maiden at Ballina on debut before transferring to the Toby and Trend Edmonds stables in June last year.

After finishing fourth in two starts for Team Edmonds at the Sunshine Coast and Coffs Harbour, the four-year-old found his way into the Green stable in Rockhampton.

The son of Territories has been with Green since the start of the year and won his first start for the stable at Rockhampton on January 27 with Tilley aboard.

Chris Whiteley had the riding duties at his last two starts when he finished second to the talented Highground in a 1200-metre Class 2 on February 24 and second to Ready For Magic in an 1100-metre Class 3 at Mackay on March 13.

Green believes Thisland Is Myland has a bright future and will target The Fitzroy over 1300 metres at Callaghan Park on April 30.

The Fitzroy carries prize money of $75,000 and is the consolation race for $775,000 The Archer on the same day.

“He’s a very promising type and if goes well I want to target The Fitzroy with him,” Green said.

Thisland Is Myland is owned by breeder Helen Yeates who runs a boutique breeding property with husband Tony at Crow’s Nest near Toowoomba.

“Helen has had a lot of horses over the years with Toby Edmonds, Darryl Hansen and others and she spreads them around,” Green said.

“She rang me up out of the blue one day asking if I could train a few horses for her.

“She and Tony run a boutique breeding property but don’t stand any stallions there.

“I’ve got 20 horses in work and nine of them are for Helen.”

Green believes there’s a case for Thisland Is Myland being unbeaten for the stable.

“When he won his first start for me he got out of trouble and put five or six lengths on them and won like a really good horse,” he said.

“He should nearly have won his last two starts and be unbeaten but he was held up a couple of times in both races and flew home.

“Bubba and I have had a lot of luck together and he’s back on him and he should be very hard to beat.”