Plenty of glittering performances on QGOLD night at 'The Creek'

By Pat McLeod

Queensland sprint queen Bear’s Bullet and distance prodigy Icy Eyes added the sparkle to another glittering QGOLD features night at Albion Park on Thursday night.

‘The King’, Jay Is Jay, may be interstate on a mission to conquer the nation’s best via The Phoenix at The Meadows on Saturday night, however the nine home-bred feature Finals showcased a broad pool of greyhound talent currently racing in Queensland.

At the head of the line for the almost $250,000 in QGOLD riches at 'The Creek' were Travis Elson’s Bear’s Bullet and Selena Zammit’s Icy Eyes.

The pair not only oozed class, but also provided plenty of theatre.

That certainly was the case in the QGOLD Summer Sprint Final over 520 metres with Elson’s all-heart chaser involved in another thrilling battle with Grant Franklin’s Get Carter.

Bear’s Bullet, as usual, started brilliantly, but looked under threat from Get Carter as the pair charged to the line.

But, in a carbon copy of the Group 1 Ipswich Gold Cup, Bear’s Bullet hung on to win by a narrow margin in 29.85 seconds.

Selena Zammit’s Another Chance was third.

“I knew that if she led, she would be very difficult to run down,” Elson said. 

“There was only one dog that I was worried about, Get Carter. They've been having a tussle all year.

“Turning for home I thought he was close enough to be a major threat. But, this little girl won't lay down. She is a fighter. She is a Rocky. She gives everything she can.”

After collecting the $25,090 winner’s cheque, Bear’s Bullet will now be spelled with a possible re-emergence deep in the 2023 Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival. 

“Bear’s Bullet is done now for a while. She will have a spell,” Elson said.

“We will go to the paddock with her and then start fresh for the races next year.     

“She has done me proud this year and she doesn't have to do anything more.”

While Bear’s Bullet’s win was full of grit, Icy Eyes radiated brilliance in her seven-length win over Spot On Polly in the QGOLD Summer Distance Final over 710 metres.

Everything about that victory was an indicator towards success in the Summer Carnival’s Group 1 Gold Cup over 710 metres on February 1.

The time, 41.50 seconds, was not only a personally best, but also the quickest 710 metre run at 'The Creek' this year.

The excitable Selena Zammit was rapt.

“Yes, that time did surprise me, a lot,” Selena said.

“Of course, you sometimes think that she can run that time, but expecting it, no I wasn't.

“She is a serious contender for the Group 1 race this carnival. As long as we can keep her sound on the track, then, yes, she is right up there.”

Selena said that having two major Group 1 contenders – Jay Is Jay and Icy Eyes – in their kennel at the same time was ‘a dream come true’.

“She (Icy Eyes) is as special as Jay is Jay. I love all my dogs the same and she is just as good as him, but over the distance,” Selena said.

“To have top dogs, a sprinter and another over the distance, is a dream come true.        

“I believe Group 1 success for both in this carnival is a realistic goal if we keep can keep them fit and injury free.

“There is no reason why we can't be in there challenging for both of those and hopefully winning both of those races.

“It is every trainer's dream to have a great 500 metre dog and to have a 700 metre dog that is just as good is unbelievable.”

Selena also had a ‘loving dig’ at husband and master trainer Mick Zammit, who is in Melbourne with Jay Is Jay.

“This is the first time I have handled Icy Eyes and she runs a personal best. So Mick, what have you been doing?” Selena said with a laugh.

Mick’s brother Tony Zammit was also among the QGOLD booty, and with an eye on the carnival Group 1s, with Go Bing winning the QGOLD Summer Chase Final, with Baccarat Boy (Tony Apap) second and Springtime Rose (Sean Galloway) third.

“Go Bing would be a contender for the Group 1 Golden Sands, because of the way she begins,” Tony Zammit said.

“Last week was her first 600 metre run for a while and she did well despite being run down.

“With a second look, she improved a lot. I'm hoping she can stay in that time range and be competitive in those bigger races.”

Comments from other QGOLD winners’ connections on Thursday night:

QGOLD Rookies Final (520 metres): Churchill Hayze – Sandra Hunt (trainer):

“This was only his second start, so I was pretty happy with that," Hunt said.

"He has trialled pretty well over 395 metres and I decided to step him up because I thought he has got some ability. He just has to work it out.

“He is not the best out of the boxes, but did well.”

QGOLD Emerging Stayers Final (600 metres): Portman’s Lass – Warren Nicholls (trainer):

“That was a super win. She has probably promised that and finally we got there," Nicholls said. 

“Eventually we will go up to 700 metres, I'm not sure how soon, but will probably persist at the grades for a while and see how she progresses.

“It was good to see her start well, because if she gets too far off the bunny she loses concentration. On the bunny she is a different dog.”

QGOLD Veterans Final (520 metres): Cincinnati Lana – Drew Pearce (kennel representative):

“She is such a great, honest performer and is coming back on again after being a little bit flat for a while," Pearce said. 

“She's finding her stride again and going well.

“She pinged the lids and I thought Jamie’s dog would give us a hard time from the one (Jamie Hosking’s Pebble’s Girl). But, she pinged and got away really well.

“I am stoked about that run. Honestly stoked. I feel privileged to handle these dogs.”

QGOLD Emerging Sprinters Final (520 metres): Alberton Park – Josh Priest (kennel representative):

“He has always had ability and hasn't been using his box speed as he should, but he did that," Priest said. 

“He was able to get to the lead and once he's in front he's a different dog.

“It was good to see him lead because he really does deserve a Thursday night win.

“We couldn't be happier with what he has done. He has done very well and we are very proud of the dog that he is becoming.”

QGOLD Bolt Final (395 metres): Rio Valour - Jason Schmidt (trainer):

“Rio Valour is a good dog and has always shown ability and always runs an honest race," Schmidt said.

“He tries his heart out.

“This whole (QGOLD) concept is great – a real bonus for those who breed dogs. You get something back for all the work. A great night.”

QGOLD Blitz Final (331 metres): Hope’s Zone – Travis Elson (trainer):

“She is part of a really good litter that I have coming through at the moment. They are just 21 months old," Elson said. 

“It was a throw at the stumps to go in the race. She is just a baby and now has had just 12 starts for nine wins and two seconds.

“She is a good little girl, but of the 10 in the litter I'm still struggling to tell which is the best one.”