Green hopes to land first city double

By Glenn Davis

Wide barriers haven’t stopped Rockhampton trainer Graeme Green of dreaming about claiming his first city double at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Green saddles up talented gelding Shamedy, who drew barrier six, in the seven horse field in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1600 metres and stable flag bearer Master Jamie, barrier 14, in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup over 1400 metres.

He has scratched Top Spy, who was handed barrier nine, from the Benchmark 85 Handicap over 1800 metres and will start the four-year-old at Eagle Farm on Friday.

“I’ve never had a double in town but this is my best chance,” Green said.

“Shamedy was my first two-year-old winner in the city and Master Jamie was my first winner with a three-year-old in town.”

Shamedy is coming off a last start second to Sunshine Coast Cup hopeful Tiger Legend at Rockhampton on January 16.

Green is not overly concerned with Master Jamie’s wide draw and is confident the seven-year-old can overcome the disadvantage.

Master Jamie finished third last start behind Rothfire in the King Of The Mountain at Toowoomba on January 1.

“I haven’t had a lot of luck with barriers lately so this is just more of the same,” Green said.

“Master Jamie’s run in the King Of The Mountain was enormous and he only got beaten half a length by a Group 1-winner and he did all the hard work.

“He could go forward from out there but he’ll take a sit. He won the last two Rockhampton Cups from wide alleys so the draw doesn’t really worry me.”

Green has his eyes on a third straight Rockhampton Cup win with Master Jamie during the Central Queensland winter and also has Cup plans for Top Spy who runs in the Class 4 Handicap over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm.

Top Spy is chasing a hat-trick of wins at Eagle Farm after decisive victories at her past two starts over 1400 and 1600 metres at Rockhampton.

“She’s won her last two starts and she was only 0.3 seconds outside the course record in her last win back home,” Green said.

“If she had been in the Rockhampton Cup last year she would have beaten Master Jamie by half a length on that time.

“She’s one of the best up and coming stayers I’ve ever trained and she’ll get 2000 metres easily.

“She’ll go back home for a break after this race and get ready for the Tattersall’s Cup then the Mackay and Townsville Cups.

“She won’t run in the Rocky Cup as I’ll have Master Jamie trying to win it for a third straight time.”