Untapped can cap big week for Zammit kennel

By Alex Nolan

Trainer Selena Zammit will be out to claim another Queensland staying feature with an interstate raider when Untapped exits box three in the Group 3 Super Stayers Invitational over 710 metres at Albion Park on Thursday.

Untapped arrives at the Willow Vale kennel as a recent all-the-way winner of the Group 1 Sandown Cup for trainer Dustin Drew and a large syndicate headed by prominent owner Ray Borda.

In winning the Sandown Cup, Untapped became the first National Greyhound Draft graduate to score at the highest level.

Her most recent effort was when third in a heat of the Pink Diamond Champion Distance series over 680 metres at Geelong, where she placed third behind Collinda Patty and Aston Velvet.

The Zammit kennel claimed the Group 3 Gold Cup with Perth chaser We The People over the summer carnival when she stormed from well back to take the $100,000 winners’ cheque.

Untapped ($4 with the TAB), however, is likely to be out in front for most of Thursday’s 710 metre contest where she’ll attempt to stave off quality chasers including Gypsy Wyong ($6), Zipping Kansas ($2.40) and last week’s Dashing Corsair winner Bedrock Fred ($3).

“I’m happy with where she’s drawn, not that I know a lot about her yet, but she’s probably a good chance of leading from there,” kennel representative Michael Zammit said.

“It is one of those races, but if you lead you’re a hope.”

Moments after winning the Sandown Cup, regular trainer Dustin Drew said Untapped had benefited from a trip to Perth earlier this year when in the care of trainer Steve Withers.

Zammit said he expects the bitch, by Aston Dee Bee out of Mepunga Fame, to take further improvement from Thursday’s outing.

“She’s settled in perfectly and you’d swear she’d been here before,” Zammit said.

“She had a 500 metre trial, starting from the 710 metre boxes on Sunday.

“She’ll head to the Queensland Cup heats next and that will be a great series.”

Untapped is currently $12 in TAB’s All In market for the Group 1 Queensland Cup, where Mambo Monelli an Zipping Kansas share equal favouritism.

Earlier this week, the Zammits unveiled a potential future star in Jay Is Jay, who won a 520 metre maiden race at Albion Park by a whopping 19 lengths.

The dog by Sennachie out of Kealoah – a bitch trained by Selena’s late father Jeff Jones – came within 0.01 seconds of lowering the 520 metre maiden class record which stands at 29.77 seconds.

In a social media post, Selena Zammit said “J IS J” were her father’s initials.

“He’s a special pup,” Zammit said.

“Fingers crossed he goes on with it.

“He’ll head to the Mick Byrne Memorial Novice Series next.

"I’d be surprised if he didn’t improve.”

Kealoah is due to come on season again in the next month.

Zammit said the kennel was tossing up a repeat mating with Sennachie, or, a potential mating with Fernando Bale.