Cluster refuses to be ignored for Nationals recognition

By Pat McLeod

Trump Zammit kennel cards Jay Is Jay and All Natural may no longer be options for the prestigious Nationals series, but ‘forgotten’ brother Cluster refuses to be ignored.

On Thursday night at Albion Park, just one week before the heats of the Queensland round of Nationals sprint and distance championships, Cluster out-gunned a strong field over 520m.

“Yes, I will be nominating him for the Nationals,” trainer Selena Zammit said after Cluster’s win over Seven Sinners (Col Graham), with Bear’s Bullet (Travis Elson) third in the Best 8 event.

“I don't know if he can win it, but we will have a go and why not.

“As I said to (husband and fellow trainer) Michael tonight, there is no harm in trying.

“There definitely could be a fairytale ending.”

The Zammits acknowledge that Cluster may not appear as Nationals champion material, however as the number of state rivals dwindle, his stocks continue to rise.

So far retirement, injury or unavailability appear to have put a line through Jay Is Jay, All Natural and Hoshino (all from the Zammit kennel), Kahlo Hayze (Sandra Hunt), who finished unplaced in Thursday night’s Best 8, and Adam McIntosh’s very smart youngster Golden Bear.

Selena Zammit said her kennel favourite could only keep doing what he is doing, which to date has resulted in a very tidy 19 wins and 25 placings for $162,185 in prize money.

“This dog (Cluster) has just stepped up since his brother (Jay Is Jay) retired and he is a good, honest dog,” she said.

“He may not be the fastest in the race, but he tries and tonight he got the luck.”

The Zammits were also celebrating emerging stayer Icy Eyes’ return to winning form on Thursday night, which also had a strong Nationals flavour.

“I was very happy with that run tonight,” Michael Zammit said of Icy Eyes’ four-length win over Dennis Barnes’ Nangar Rocket, with Get Carter (Peter O’Reilly) third, in 34.76secs.

“I think she's going almost as well as ever.

“She is a top-class bitch and we want to have her in (the Nationals distance heats) next week.

“I believe that run tonight will bring her on.

“I would have preferred to see her go a fraction better, but having said that the dog that she beat (Nangar Rocket) is pretty good.”

Icy Eyes made a major impression as a young distance star last year before a serious back muscle injury put her off the track in late December.

She returned to racing in late June.

“As long as she pulls up alright then we are through to The Nationals heats next week,” Zammit said.

Travis Elson’s litter of young speed machines continue to knock on the door of higher recognition.

Two of his Fernando Bale x Nan's Magic ‘pups’, Danger Zone and Travis’s Scrub, saluted on Thursday night keeping that litter also in the frame for next week’s Nationals heats.

“I am rapt with this litter because they keep improving,” he said.

“They are speed dogs and they like to get out and lead.”

Elson has represented Queensland twice at The Nationals and would love to make another appearance when the spotlight shifts to Adelaide’s Angle Park on Saturday, August 24, for the sprint and distance finals.

“The Nationals are an awesome carnival,” he said. 

“Everything about it I enjoy.”

The Tim Britton-Martina Kirillidis training combination continues to grow in prominence since establishing their kennel at Churchable late last year.

On Thursday night at Albion Park Britton quinellaed Race 3, a FFA 710m, with Red Dirt Road (41.95secs) and First Picked.

Kirillidis then took out Race 4, a 4^th/5^th Grade (520m) with Trapper Tears and then Kirillidis’ Binny Doo was impressive in running second to Travis’s Scrub in Race 5, a 5^th Grade (520m).