Selena and Mick bag four including Dave Brett Memorial

By Pat McLeod

The Selena and Mick Zammit training juggernaut hit rare air on Thursday night at Albion Park with the pair not only claiming the prestigious Dave Brett Memorial Final, but also finishing the program with four winners.

The night highlighted the quality of the current ‘Team Zammit’ and was the perfect drum roll for kennel star Jay is Jay’s Million Dollar Chase Semi-Final campaign at Wentworth Park on Friday evening. 

Youngster Rocklea Earle presented the duo with their first Dave Brett Memorial win with a tenacious performance.

The Barcia Bale and Paint Face dog found the line with power just a half-length ahead of Travis Elson’s Speed Zone with Colin Graham’s Distant Flash third.

“Tonight’s win was fantastic,” Selena Zammit said. 

“This dog wasn’t particularly impressive early on. He broke in average. But, he just gets better and better each time we put him around.

“He is certainly going to be a very handy dog. He came out well tonight and he normally finds the line well.

“He got himself into a good position and then showed a lot of race sense.”

Mick Zammit added his thoughts, as well. 

“He is a very nice dog. He does everything right as a young dog and there is still plenty of improvement in him," Mick said. 

Both Selena and Mick paid tribute to the man the race is named after, legendary local trainer Dave Brett, who passed away in 2001.

“We got to know Dave well while he was training here,” Mick recalls. 

“But, I knew of him well before then.

“I remember him coming down from Mackay and would win races at the Gabba.

“I was impressed with him as a trainer even before he came down to Brisbane. I knew he was a good man with a dog.

“I had a lot of respect for him as a trainer, but more than that he was a really nice bloke.”

Dave Brett’s son, premier trainer Tony Brett, congratulated the Zammits and also thanked the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club for the longevity of the race, which has been contested since 2002.

“Dad loved racing dogs, he loved watching great dogs race and he especially loved young dogs,” Brett said.

“It is a great honour for us that this race is held every year.

“Congratulations to Selena and Mick. They have turned out a very nice dog tonight and he looks the goods.”

And, the night was only to get better for the Zammits.

Two races later, race seven, their emerging stayer Icy Eyes, came back to top form with a five-and-three-quarter lengths win over Springtime Rose (trained by Sean Galloway) in a fifth grade race over 600 metres in a smart 34.62 seconds. 

Post-race Mick Zammit confirmed Icy Eyes would be stepped back up to 710 metres, following the dog’s fifth placing in her debut over that distance last week.

“We will definitely go back to the 700 metres,” Mick said.

“She is worth another try and we couldn't get a really good guide from her first run last week.”

The Zammits smart sprinter All Natural than claimed race nine, a best eight event over 520 metres over Tomahawk Hayze (Sandra Hunt) and Bear’s Bullet (Travis Elson) in 29.70 seconds. 

They finished their night with a win to Daysea’s Rowdy in race 10.

Jemma Daley scored a double across the 12-race program.

She opened her account for the night when Townsville newcomer Eyes On Meg took out a fifth grade 520 metre event.

Then in race 11 Where’s The Bar gave the kennel their second win in a masters 520 metre race.