Master Jamie celebrates new milestone

Photo: Caught in the Act Photography CQ

By Tony McMahon

Master Jamie has become the latest Queensland horse to crack the million-dollar prize money barrier.

Rockhampton trainer Graeme Green was lost for superlatives after his iron horse smashed the magical $1 million prize money mark through his gutsy third placing in the $750,000 King of the Mountain at Toowoomba on New Year’s Day.

Finishing just a half-length behind Group 1 winner Rothfire, Master Jamie earned $100,000 for his troubles and took his prize money haul to $1.048 million.

In the process, he became the first lifelong Callaghan Park-trained racehorse in the 156-year history of Rockhampton racing to reach the $1 million mark.

“What can I say about him, except what a mighty horse he is,” Green said.

“Jamie is as tough as old boots. He ate up on Monday night after the Toowoomba race while only leaving two little handfuls of feed.

“As well as that, he ate all his hay. It was an enormous run and I feel in another hundred metres he would have won.”

Master Jamie was under pressure up with the leaders and being pushed by jockey Les Tilley as far as 800 metres from the finish, but typically in his bulldog racing style, he never stopped trying and if anything was doing his best work near the post.

Reporting that Master Jamie had come through the race as “good as gold”, Green said the horse would have a quiet time back in Rockhampton before being prepared for his next assignment in 25 days’ time.

“I’ll set him now for the Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) on January 27,” the trainer and part-owner said.

It’s been one hell of a ride on the back of Master Jamie for trainer Green and the horse’s fellow part-owners, Central Queensland’s Ron and Bev White, ever since Graeme spotted him at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sales in 2018 – purchased for only $10,000.

Never in their wildest dreams would the trio have known what would lie ahead.

Following his first start at Callaghan Park on November 9 that year, Master Jamie gave an indication of his potential winning the Breeder’s 2YO Plate (1050m) by almost seven lengths.

He was ridden by Tilley who has teamed for 11 of Master’s Jamie’s 18 wins including both the 2022 and 2023 Rockhampton Cups.

While the 7YO has been blazing a trail of glory for Rockhampton racing, his possible heir apparent in the female ranks - the Clinton Taylor-trained 4YO mare Chinny Boom - is also on an upwards spiral.

She too did Rockhampton racing proud at Doomben on Saturday when a close second to Lady Laguna in the $200,000 Listed Nudgee Stakes (1200m).

It was Chinny Boom’s second placing in Listed company, enhancing her worth as a broodmare with black-type marking in her CV and pedigree page.

Clinton Taylor reported on Tuesday that Chinny Boom had come through Saturday’s impressive performance in fine fashion.

“All good with her. I have sent her out to Embrook near Beaudesert for a few days freshen-up,” he said.

“I’ll go back down to Brisbane on Thursday to prepare her and get ready for her next assignment on Magic Million Day at the Gold Coast.”

Taylor has two options for Chinny Boom at the $14.75 million Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday on January 13.

‘‘I’ll nominate her for both the $1 million Filles and Mares race (1300m) and the QTIS race that day,” he said.

Chinny Boom - bred and raced by Chinchilla’s Mark Pascoe - was passed in at $48,000 at the 2021 MM March Yearling Sale on a $50,000 reserve.

Pascoe retained her, thereby proving fortuitous with seven wins and two seconds from 11 starts returning $340,550 in purses.