Three wins didn’t dilute Zammit’s concern over kennel star’s performance

By Pat McLeod

The look on Mick Zammit’s face late on Thursday night didn’t equate with the results his kennel had just achieved at Albion Park.

The Mick and wife Selena training duo had tallied three wins, including two heat victories in the annual Publicans Cup over 520 metres.

However, it was the winning performance of kennel star Jay Is Jay that concerned Zammit.

The Albion Park 520 metre track record holder had edged out Magistrate (trained by Greg Stella) and Adulate (Tony Zammit) in a best eight race over that distance.

Magistrate, who has brilliantly exceeded expectations right through the winter, pinged out of the boxes and was only reined in by Jay Is Jay in the shadows of the finish line. The winning time was 30.02 seconds. 

It was not the commanding performance Mick  was expecting, especially ahead of a tilt at the upcoming Million Dollar Chase series.

“I would probably say that I am a bit disappointed with that,” Mick said after the race.

“He (Jay Is Jay) had every chance and only just got there. By his standards that is a bit disappointing.

“In saying that, of course Magistrate is in good form and goes well. But, Jay Is Jay is super strong. I thought he would have been in front coming around the corner.

“I am not sure at this stage why he was below par. There may be some underlying reason. I certainly thought he would have gone a little bit better than that."

Mick said there doesn't seem to be anything obviously wrong with the dog.

"But, there is something not right with him. I don't think it is fitness," Mick said. 

“I'll probably get some checks done, bloods. I’ll tick that box and then see. All going well we want to have a crack at the Million Dollar Chase.”

Earlier on Thursday night Mick's mood was far more elevated when dogs trained by he and wife Selena took out the first two of five Publicans Cup heats.

In the opening heat Another Chance ticked his ‘consistency tab’ with yet another winning performance.

The My Redeemer - Lilly Sur Seine chaser extended his stats sheet to 14 wins and 10 placings from 36 outings with a 4.75-length win over Jedda Cutlack’s Lightning Buzz.

“He has been going really well recently,” Mick said of Another Chance.

“His main strength is a bit of early speed. He is not sensational in that respect, just very solid. He runs a good time and he's usually up in the front part of the race.

“He is a very handy dog. I would be happy to have a kennel full of dogs like this.”

Mick was just as buoyant after the second heat when another from the kennel, Icy Eyes, saluted by a length over Kevin Macintosh’s Boys Light up.

“I was very happy with her (Icy Eyes),” Mick said.

“I thought she would handle box eight very well and that's exactly how it turned out.

“She is the type of race dog that just does everything very well.

“At some stage I would like to try her over 600 metres to see if she can handle more distance.”

Brisbane Young Guns winner during the 2023 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival, Dolly Dutton (Andrew Monaghan) produced a close-to-textbook performance in taking out heat three by almost five lengths ahead of Jedda Cutlack’s Caramel Queen.

“She has now got the jump right twice in a row,” a rapt Monaghan said after the win.

“It was a good run and once she is on the bunny it will take a very good dog to get around her.

“But, getting out of those boxes, that is the main secret with her.”

Heat four went to Grant Franklin’s Get Carter by a nose over Double Up Bill (Cyndie Elson).

Franklin admitted after the heat that he preferred his chaser to not be too close to the lead too early. In this heat Get Carter grabbed the lead in the back straight.

“I am never confident when he gets to the front too early, but I'm glad he got the win,” Franklin said.

“Next week will be a different story. Hopefully there will be faster dogs who will lead early and my bloke will come home from several lengths back.

“That is his best race pattern.”

The final Publicans Cup heat was taken out by Sandra Hunt’s Lederhosen Boy by five lengths over I’m Peakin’ (Jedda Cutlack).

It was a commanding performance by Lederhosen Boy, whose career statistics now stand at 43 starts for eight wins and 19 placings.

Thursday night’s program opened up with two young southerners catching plenty of attention with their winning performances.

First of all Hilde, for Darren Russell, scored in a novice race over 520 metres in a smart 30.12 seconds, with Saanvi (Jedda Cutlack) second and Hotel Whisky One (Matt Vincent) third.

It was Hilde’s debut at 'The Creek', with her first five starts spread across Wentworth Park and Richmond.

“She has got ability,” Russell said. 

“She has not been out of these boxes and to run 30.12 seconds at first look shows she has ability.

“She was also perfectly boxed, out of the eight.”

Russell said the dog had been sent up to him through an old footy connection.

“The dog is owned by a small syndicate in Sydney that has just gotten into greyhounds and this is one of the first ones they have bought,” he explained.

“She had five starts and they just wanted to send her up north. I know one of the owners from football about 30 years ago.

“I have no plans at the moment for her and we will just see how she goes.”

Race two winner, Reggie Quinn, confirmed Grafton club president John Corrigan’s opinion of his dog.

“I think he has plenty of ability,” Corrigan said.

Reggie Quinn scored a three-quarters-of-a-length win over Darryl Keeping (Jedda Cutlack) and Party Mode (Craig Gardoll). 

“He did it hard again and just kept coming," Corrigan said.

“I won’t hurry him. With young dogs you just take it slowly and just see how they progress. You just take it one day at a time.

“His big asset is his strength. His mother (Dixie Trick) won over 600 metres, but I am happy keeping him over the 500.”

In what is a program constant, trainer Jedda Cutlack was seldom off the podium, finishing the night with two wins and five second placings.