Adrian Coome to step away from training

By Glenn Davis

Former champion provincial jockey turned trainer Adrian Coome has shocked the racing industry with his decision to quit the sport.

Coome is likely to saddle up his last starters at Rockhampton on Tuesday while his final runner could be at Doomben on Wednesday.

“I’ve lost interest and I’m looking for a change and want to move on,” Coome said.

“I’ve got a job in the mines working as a trade assistant at Blackwater.

“Racing has been good to me but I want a life after training and Wednesday’s race in Brisbane could be my last runner.”

The 34-year-old Coome has been training for four years and won the Rockhampton trainers’ premiership in his second year.

He retired from the saddle in 2018 following a long battle with weight problems before making a brief but unsuccessful comeback while holding a dual trainer’s and jockey’s licence.

In his riding days, he was the state’s leading jockey three times, winning seven Rockhampton jockey premierships and two in a Mackay.

“I’ve got six in work and at this stage and provided the owners agree, they’ll be transferred over to be trained by my partner Sileas Green,” Coome said.

Sileas Green has been training in her own right for a few months and is the daughter of well-known Rockhampton trainer, Graeme Green.

Coome is hopeful both starters at Callaghan Park could send him out a winner on his home track.

He saddles Dragon’s Snip in the Class 1 Handicap over 1050 metres and Moenave in the Class 3 Handicap over 1400 metres while Enuff He Said is entered for the Benchmark 75 Handicap at Doomben on Wednesday.

Both Rockhampton starters will be ridden by Brisbane jockey Jackson Murphy after Coome resisted claiming on Moenave, who is top weight with 61kgs.

Moenave is coming off a last start fifth to the Stuart Kendrick-trained Hard Reyva in a 1300 metre Open Handicap at Rockhampton on August 17 while Dragon’s Snip is resuming after finishing fourth in two-year-old company in the middle of March.

“Nothing went right for Moenave last start when he had a terrible run and was caught wide,” Coome said.

“This is a big drop in class and he should be hard to beat but he’s probably looking for a mile now.

“Dragon’s Snip is going well and has won a barrier trial so I’m hoping he’ll run well fresh.”