Sprint star Stinger Noir has Queensland behind him in Million Dollar Chase

By Isaac Murphy

Stinger Noir was always a dog that promised plenty for Selena and Michael Zammit, but prior to the past few months it was fair to class the enigmatic chaser as hit or miss.

He’s only recently started to shed that tag, currently riding a six-race Best 8 winning streak at Albion Park, and most recently winning the Queensland Sprint Championships, booking a ticket to Friday night’s Million Dollar Chase semi-finals where he’ll have Queensland behind him.

The automatic qualification gave the Zammits the opportunity to plan out an ideal preparation for their million-dollar hopeful, with the couple deciding a three-week stint under premier New South Wales trainer Jason Mackay was the best possible build up.

“The dog’s been with Jason for almost three weeks now, and by all reports he’s settled in really well and has made himself at home,” Michael Zammit said.

“He’s had a couple of looks at the track - not full trials just a couple of post to posts - and they haven’t been anything sensational, but they were right about where we thought he could run.

“There was a bit of a process in choosing to send him to Jason, there’s a lot of good trainers in New South Wales and he’s right up there; we wanted the right fit and in consultation with the dog’s owner Peter Hare we thought Jason was the man for the job.

“He was very accommodating in us wanting to get the dog down there early and give him every possible chance with a good preparation, he’s a trainer who’s won big races and knows how to have him right when it counts - he’s in good hands.”

Arguably Stinger Noir’s biggest improvement has been his box manners, and after getting to the first mark in 5.47 at Albion Park, Zammit is hoping he can use that early dash from a favourable draw in semi-final eight.

“Coming up with the red on Friday gives him a genuine hope of going through, although the strength of the race is pretty incredible,” Zammit said.

“I haven’t gone through all of them, but I know a couple in the race; Tiggerlong Tonk is one of the best dogs in Australia and then a local like Vamos Penny in the eight will be very hard to beat.

“The positive for us is they’re drawn on the other side of the track and hopefully we can get away clean and not have to tangle with them too early, but we’re not discounting any runner at the end of the day - whoever performs on the night deserves it.”

After a brave effort in the Townsville Cup, a bit of a scare went through the camp when the dog came home dour, meaning that Queensland Sprint win has proven all the more useful.

“His last time racing was obviously in the Townsville Cup and drawing box eight for the final on the corner start was always going to be a tough ask, he did well to run fourth in the end,” Zammit said.

“We brought him back home and he was actually a bit flat, we gave him a couple of easy weeks when he got back and thankfully he trialled well the week before we were set to send him to Jason and we knew he’d only improve once he got down there.

“We were very fortunate he won the Queensland Sprint and got a free ticket to the semis because he probably wouldn’t have made it down here if he had to go through the Lismore Regional Series.”

Zammit spoke on the dog’s continued improvement; he’s 65 starts in and turns three later next month but is still learning new tricks.

“We couldn’t be happier the way the dog has come along this year; getting his best time down to 29.61 at Albion, consistently getting out of the boxes in 5.5 or better to the first mark, and obviously winning the Queensland Sprint Championships,” he said.

“These were all things that were probably beyond him earlier in the year, he’d always struggled for consistency, but I think he knows he’s a really good dog now and to have him in a race like the Million Dollar Chase and then bring him back here for our Group races is where we thought he could get to.”

Zammit said he’d love to have the family trackside on Friday night, but felt fortunate just to be in the position they are.

“It’s definitely a bit difficult watching from afar, we’re obviously very excited to have him in the semis and a race away from the final, but you have to remind yourself everything has to be perfect or he’ll be heading home,” he said.

“To make it to the final would be a dream, but we’re already so proud of him, to earn his spot the way he did and give himself a chance is a big effort in itself.”