Queensland superstar back on track for winter carnival

By Jordan Gerrans

Superstar chaser Jay Is Jay is heading in the right direction towards being a major player in the 2024 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival after a dashing return trial at headquarters on Friday of last week.

The reigning Million Dollar Chase champion has been off the public scene since finishing fourth at Albion Park in late March.

The 520 metre track record holder did not show his customary burst to the line on that occasion with the star dog’s connections 'disappointed' and 'bewildered' post-race.

Trainer Selena Zammit admits there have been plenty of nerves and pressure since but following Friday’s trial she believes the puzzle pieces are starting to fall into place ahead of the carnival.

The son of Sennachie went 5.54 seconds in the first split before running home in 11.39 seconds to complete a sharp 16.93 second post to post.

“The dog is closer than what we thought he would be,” the trainer said on Monday morning. 

“We were expecting maybe 11.50 seconds to the back – we would have been happy if he ran that.

“But, seeing as he ran 11.39 seconds – we were obviously ecstatic with the dog.

“We are ahead of the targets we had for the dog because of the trial on Friday. As long as everything goes to plan he will be back soon.”

While Jay Is Jay has not been at the races since the back end of March, the pin-up boy of Sunshine State dog racing was included in the Queensland squad for the highly anticipated upcoming State Of Origin series.

That is where his comeback to the track will build momentum.

The Zammit clan are eager to get another Albion Park trial or two into him before returning to the races the Thursday evening before the Origin showdown, which is slated for the second Thursday in June. 

Following Friday’s impressive trial, the reigning Queensland Greyhound of the Year went up the Zammit’s Willow Vale straight on Monday.

“If he does not race before then, he will definitely be back for the Origin series and then the Brisbane Cup and everything else that is going,” she said.

“As long as the dog shows he is ready to return, he is doing everything right.

“The dog is as fit as we can get him up the straight, now he just needs the trialling behind the lure to get that race fitness.”

Selena trains in partnership with her husband Mick and says a weight was lifted from their shoulders after Friday’s trial.

“It was a relief and everyone at the track could see that on mine and Michael’s face after he trialled,” she said.

“We were very happy. It was a worry his last start and we obviously couldn’t find anything wrong with the dog, so we gave him a couple of weeks off.

“We started working him again and until we trialled him on the Friday, we just did not know where we stood with him.

“Now we do – he is back on track and he is just as good as ever. It is a relief as there is a lot of pressure having a dog like this.”

With the carnival for 2024 building momentum this Thursday evening with the heats of the Flying Amy Classic, Selena says she is happy with where her kennel of dogs are at ahead of the busy portion of the season.

Jay Is Jay’s litter mate Cluster won in a best eight event at Albion Park last Thursday.

Also from the star-studded Sennachie and Kealoah litter, All Natural will head to a Brisbane Cup Prelude on Wednesday. 

All Natural was a Group 1 Golden Easter Egg Finalist last month.

All Natural finished sixth in the same race Cluster won on Thursday. 

The age-restricted Group 1 Flying Amy Classic over 520 metres kick-starts the carnival from Thursday with heats before the $225,000 Final early in June.

The Zammits have high hopes for Hoshino in the series.

The son of Aston Dee Bee is yet to finish outside the money in five career starts with three victories to his name already.

“He is a good pup, it is exciting times with him for the owners and us,” Selena said.

Meanwhile, Queensland staying star Valpolicella finished third in Friday night’s Group 1 Sandown Cup.