Jay Is Jay aiming to tick empty ‘away’ box in Sunday’s Grafton Cup

By Pat McLeod

Master Queensland mentor Mick Zammit hopes he and wife Selena’s celebrated chaser Jay Is Jay can achieve a significant first with victory in the Group 3 Village Green Hotel Grafton Cup on Sunday.

The Albion Park 520 metre record-breaker has seldom been out of the limelight in his 20 starts. To date he has collated eight wins and eight placings, $184,355 in prize money and two Group wins.

Mick has not sought the low-hanging fruit with Jay Is Jay, chasing rich pickings at home, in Sydney, Rockhampton and now Grafton.

However, the lightning Sennachie-Kealoah greyhound is yet to win away from Albion Park, a statistic Mick is keen to change on Sunday.

“Yes, Albion Park is actually the only track that he has won on,” Mick said. “It would be nice if that changed on Sunday.

“We came to Grafton for a change of scenery. It is a good track and I love racing there. It is a beautiful track, sensational.

“There will be plenty of races coming up at Albion Park so we thought we would just give him a change on a big track to see if that changes his luck from the last couple of outings.”

Jay Is Jay’s second placing in the heats of the Grafton Cup may not have ticked that ‘away win’ box, but at least it ushered the Zammit kennel's favourite through to the Final and a chance at victory.

His previous two starts were a fifth in the Golden Easter Eggs heats at Wentworth Park and then another fifth in his Rockhampton Cup heat.

Jay Is Jay’s only other start away from Albion Park was his debut at Capalaba, where he ran third.

Since then he has had 16 consecutive starts at Albion Park and built a formidable reputation – running second in the listed Queensland Flame, first in the Group 2 Queensland Derby, equal first in the Group 3 Golden Ticket match race, then second in the Group 1 Gold Bullion.

In the middle of March came Jay Is Jay’s defining moment to date, setting a new mark for the Albion Park 520 metre mark at 29.35 seconds. 

Mick explained that he and wife Selena had continually tested the dog.

“Jay Is Jay has only had 20 starts, but we haven't exactly been kind to him,” he said.

“He has raced out of his class. We have thrown him in the deep end. But, he can handle it.

“His record is probably about normal for what his ability is. He has done very well so far, considering what he has raced against.

“His start is probably the only thing that could be better. But, he has run super times a number of times. So, when he ran the record we were not shocked because of the times that he had been running as a young dog.

“On occasions we have been unlucky, such as in Rockhampton. But, you are not going to win them all. So, you have to be grateful if you win some.

“Of course I hope the dog goes on to win a Group 1. I'm not sure if you can say that he deserves one, but I am sure he would be worthy of one.

“With the times that he has run and the fact that he has won a couple of Group races, it would not be out of character if he won a Group 1.”

Mick isn’t disappointed with the seven alley for Jay Is Jay on Sunday.

“I don't mind him out wide. If he stays there he will get a bit of room,” he said.

“The eight, Starline Express (trained by Reg Gardoll), is the likely leader. The dog that beat us in the heat (Dave Irwin’s Impress Dressel) obviously will be a danger and John Dart’s dog Commands Respect goes very well.

“It's a pretty fair field.”

Win or lose on Sunday the Zammits will be staying on home soil for the foreseeable future.

“After Grafton we will just concentrate on Albion Park with him and hopefully there are a number of races there that he can do well in,” Mick said.

“It just depends on how he is going as to what winter carnival races we will target. We will certainly be in a few of them and obviously we will be targeting the million-dollar race (The Group 1 Brisbane Cup over 520 metres) - why wouldn't you.”