Zammits look to make a name for new faces in Gold Bullion

By Isaac Murphy

Selena and Mick Zammit prioritise quality over quantity in their kennel.

Despite the loss of two champions to injury recently, the couple have wasted no time replenishing their stocks with a pair of promising bitches who are ready to make some noise in Thursday night’s Group 1 Gold Bullion heats.

“It’s been a tough couple of months losing Stinger Noir and Oh Mickey who had both established themselves at the top level,” Mick Zammit said.

“It’s definitely a boost to have two promising ones in Kooringa Lucy and Paint Face going well, but this will be the real litmus test to see how good they’re going.”

Despite hot form from both leading into the race, Zammit knows this is the next level, starting with Kooringa Lucy who is set to tangle with the series favourite first up.

“Shima Shine looms large over Kooringa Lucy’s heat, if you were debating the best dog in Australia at the moment he’d be in the conversation, she’ll be up against it there,” he said.

“She’s shown us in recent weeks she can run time (29.65), but whether she can do that from the draw (6) in a field who are going to be lightning early is another question.

“She’s only had the two starts for us, Mitch Northfield gave us the reigns wanting to race her in town a bit more, she was presented in brilliant order and a win and a fighting third have her as good as she can be for this week.”

Given her recent performances, the Gold Bullion was always the first port of call for the well credentialled bitch, but Zammit sees plenty of scope beyond just this race.

“We see her future primarily as a 600-metre bitch, she’s only had the one start over the trip a few weeks ago and just didn’t handle the corner start and was checked out of it, but I think she’ll excel in time,” he said.

“In saying that she’s just run a time that would’ve seen her finish second in the Golden Ticket, not many go in the 29.6 range and it’s nice to see her do it on the eve of the Group 1.

“We think there’s a lot of untapped potential there with her too, early on she ran second in the Queensland Futurity up here and has won races at Wentworth Park but has never got any real continuity in her racing which is what we’ll look to bring out of her.”

Continuity has no been an issue for Paint Face of late, with the bitch winning five of her last six at The Creek, and Zammit is looking at her at a long-term prospect but her upward trajectory warranted a start.

“She’s only 16 starts into her career and is probably going to be outclassed, but she’s been going super and surprising us each time out so why not give her a chance,” Zammit said.

“She’s come along a lot quicker than we expected, she took a few starts to knock over her Novice and then found herself in the final of the Futurity and wasn’t far out of her depth and she’s gone from strength to strength since.

“At her age it’s a good experience, she meets the likes of Sentenced and Faithy Bale who have her covered at their best, but we’re hoping she’ll be lining up again next year.”

Paint Face has a long career in front of her and given her rapid improvement, not even Zammit knows where she’ll end up.

“It’s been quite a transformation over the last few months, we originally thought she’d be a 5.5 early section bitch who would just get the 500, but she’s slowed down a bit early and added plenty of power late,” he said.

“From the draw (7) with Sentenced outside us and Oski inside I really hope she can bounce and beat those two out who are very strong, if she can sit behind the leader whoever that is it gives her a chance.

“Her dam Alpha Demeter was late to mature and worked her way up to a top-grade bitch in Melbourne, if Paint Face can follow in her footsteps we’re in for a good ride.”