New Green set to make mark in Central Queensland training ranks

By Jordan Gerrans

After decades learning under her father Graeme, as well as many other respected racing mentors, Sileas Green is aiming to forge her own path in the industry in Central Queensland.

The daughter of leading Rockhampton trainer Graeme, the 29-year-old has recently taken out her own training licence and will have the second starter in her name at Callaghan Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Sileas will do so just weeks after giving birth to her first son – Archie.

It has been a busy little period for Sileas and her partner Adrian Coome – who is a dual-licensed trainer and jockey.

She started her first official horse in a race in the middle of last month, just before Archie was welcomed into the world.

Adrian – previously a leading provincial jockey before taking out his dual-licence – has 14 gallopers in work, many of which Sileas is hands on with around the stables.

Sileas just has maiden mare Indiana Falls in her name at the moment but anticipates she will take on a few more gallopers in the near future. 

“Once things settle down a little bit again, I would like to have a couple more in work,” Sileas said, referring to her new son and preparing a team of horses.

“Adrian has the dual-licence and going forward, he might be able to focus more on his riding and that way I can have a look at the training side of things.”

After first being introduced to the game by her father Graeme, Sileas has served an extensive apprenticeship in the racing industry, learning from a number of leading figures around the globe.

She moved away from home as a teenager to Sydney to work for Darley and Peter Snowden.

“Pete got me a job in England, I worked for six months over there for Darley as well,” Sileas recalls.

“I eventually came back to Australia and back to Pete again – he is like a second Dad to me and everybody down there.

“I stuck with him and worked for him and Paul for a few more years.

“I did that before I eventually moved back to Brisbane to be closer to my family and I went to work for Kelly Schweida.

“I have been pretty lucky to work with some unreal horseman, they are all incredible.”

As well as the influence of her father Graeme and partner Coome, Sileas is aiming to bring all that knowledge and experience into her own training journey.

Now back in Central Queensland, the rookie trainer did not think she would take out her own licence initially.

It was a gentle nudge from her partner and multiple time winner of the Rockhampton jockey’s premiership that eventually got her over the line.

“It never really occurred to me that I would go into training, I would have been happy to secure a good foreman’s position or something like that,” Sileas said.

“That was always an ambition of mine.

“Adrian really encouraged me to have a crack myself, then we went and bought this filly Indiana Falls and she has been a bit of a project for me while I was pregnant.

“I have always had the support of Adrian so it was a lot easier than I expected.

“She is a lovely little filly and she has made it a lot of fun.”

Sileas and Indiana Falls enjoyed an infamous start to their time together on race day.

In a 1100 metre event at Callaghan Park in the middle of December, the 17-start maiden put on a bucking performance not long after the gates opened and she failed to finish the course with Nathan Day in the saddle.

Reflecting on the horror start to her training career, Sileas says all she could do was laugh at the track that day.

The five-year-old has since trialled and will have her second attempt at a race start for the stable on Tuesday.

“It has been a bit of a blessing, she has come along in leaps and bounds in terms of her coat and her attitude from that first start,” Green said.

“She has been a bit of a project, when she arrived she was underdone and she took a while to get going.

“I could not be happier with her and she worked well late last week before this start.

“She only cost $800 so if she could pick up a few placings, then we will be in front.”

Sileas’ father Graeme has long been a consistent regional trainer and has risen to prominence in the metropolitan area in recent years through the efforts of tough sprinter Master Jamie.

Back in late 2020, Master Jamie booked a Stradbroke Handicap ticket in the $250,000 The Gateway for that coming year and now boasts 17 career triumphs, including a Rockhampton Cup and a Cleveland Bay Handicap.

Graeme – now in his 60s – has always been an advocate for Sileas’ racing pursuits. 

“He has always been a massive supporter and he taught me a lot,” she said.

“Since we were kids, he taught me the passion of racing and I will always be thankful for everything he has given me.

“There is not too many race meetings that I would not have been to with him. He has been a huge supporter.”