Master Jamie trades the track for the showring.

Seriously, I’ll wager at first glance you did not recognise the two Rockhampton racing toffs in the attached photograph taken by Kylie Welburn in Brisbane yesterday (Monday).

It is none other than the dual Rockhampton Cup winning combination of Master Jamie and his jockey Les “Bubba” Tilley as you have never seen the pair before.

Just one day short of a month after their grand last start second in the $150K  Rockhampton Cup, they were centre field at the Royal Queensland Show in Brisbane.

Yep the Ekka where Master Jamie was competing as a show horse for the first time in the Thoroughbred Led Class.

Master Jamie finished fourth in his class.

From his Callaghan Park stables in Rockhampton, former trainer and part owner Graeme Green was ever so proud.

“Jamie looked magnificent and Bubba and Alex Patis have done a brilliant job with him. He is a credit to them. Jamie will have a great life in his new show and dressage career from their property in Toowoomba,” Graeme said.

Green and the former owners of Master Jamie gifted him to the couple so as Jamie had a life after racing.

It’s a good news story for all concerned and obviously Master Jamie, a bulldog on the racetrack is a gentleman and showman in the ring!

Thank you Kylie for such a magnificent photograph for everyone to admire. HOOFNOTE: Graeme has another serious horse in his stable in Top Spy which won under 65kg by lengths last Saturday ant Mackay.  Amazing win – look it up folks.

Gun colt Astapor, is expected to line up for his first Sydney start in the $200K LR 3Y0 Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday. Astapor won three races for Rocky’’s Clinton Taylor for owner, Chinchilla’s Rodney Hay. After his gutsy win under 60kg from an outside barrier at Eagle Farm on July 20, it was decided to give the loop colt his chance in Sydney.

Gee there will be a convoy of floats and horse transports heading along the highways and byways to Callaghan Park races on Thursday. That’s the natural assumption judging by the entries from southern trainers. Matt and son William Kropp from Toowoomba have teams entered for the eight race TAB fixture while Joshua King from there has nominated as well. Other likely visitors include Michael Lakey (Brisbane); David Vandyke, Liam Birchley and Krystle Johnston from the Sunshine Coast. Gympie trainers Trevor Thomas and Grant Parker also have nommed for Thursday. Craig Smith and Scott Rodger’s plan on coming in from Roma while Chinchilla’s Rodney Hay does as well. Planning on flying the northern flag will be Townsville’s Troy Clive. Naturally, it all depends on the weather so let’s just hope the rain abates.

The well worn adage “it’s hard to keep a good man down” is certainly applicable to Rockhampton horse trainer John Poots, 65.

John sustained serious brain injuries in a horrific horse related accident as his Port Curtis property in early July last year. He was hospitalised for the proverbial “ages” and has made what I can only describe as a miraculous recovery. So much so he is set to have his first race starter since June 17, 2023 in Snazzy Snitzel at Callaghan Park races on Thursday. Good luck John.

Big day out for the juniors and one senior at what can only be described as a colossal Gladstone Cup race meeting last Saturday. Ferguson Park racecourse was jam packed with patrons. Apprentice jockeys Jamie-Lee Devine (2 winners), Brodie Moffat (2) and Issy Jessop (first winner) and Julie Busuttin ( fourth winner) rode the card. Jamie-Lee won the Cup on Rocky trainer Kale Sinclair’s track specialist Take The Lead. Earlier the 17-Y-O combined with Gladstone’s veteran trainer Phillip Pengelly 71, to win with feet problem horse Extremaarty. Phillip Pengelly has long been Calliope and then Gladstone based. His best horses were memorable ones in Duff’s Remorse, County Ken and Anstand. I reckon Phillip’s best horse though was his retired jockey son, the now coal miner Brad Pengelly. Boy couldn’t he ride!

Further north at the Mackay Cup meeting last Saturday, once again Rocky and Capricornia trainers dominated. More on that in the days ahead.

Happy 😊 Horses 🐎 🐎 everyone and hope to see you at Callaghan Park races high and dry on Thursday. Tony McMahon.