Zammit kennels to carry Queensland torch at Nationals

By Pat McLeod

Queensland’s hopes in the sprint and distance events at the 2024 Nationals in Adelaide later this month rest within the successful kennels of the Zammit clan.

Tony Zammit’s distance queen Valpolicella won the Queensland Distance Championship Final over 710 metres on Thursday night at Albion Park.

And, in the next race on the program Selena and Mick Zammit’s ‘over-achiever’ Cluster gapped the field by over five lengths to claim the Queensland Sprint Championship Final over 520 metres.

The Queensland representative in the third of the Nationals races, the straight track championship, will be decided on Sunday at Capalaba.

Tony Zammit was happy with Valpolicella’s performance despite her taking almost the entire journey to exert her dominance.

“Although she didn't run time, I was happy with the way that she did it,” Tony Zammit said.

“She got back a long way again after she copped a bad check.

“She seems to be finding a little bit of bad luck in her last couple of starts and isn't starting with much luck. So, her run obviously just depends on where she gets to early.

“But, she is sensible enough to find her way through. It was a case of going wide, whereas last week she was railing. She can just navigate the best route.

“That run will have done her the world of good and I will take her down and trial her at the (Angle Park) track.”

Valpolicella won in 42.55 seconds with Greg Paull’s Midnight Bandit second and Wayne Spann’s Buckeye Bullet third.

Long-shot Midnight Bandit, who turns five in December, almost wrote his own Nationals fairytale when he charged along the rail to lead with the finish post in sight only to have Valpolicella sizzle past.

The back-story to Cluster’s win in Thursday night’s sprint Final also has its ‘fairytale’ claims.

In this very race last year, Cluster’s two big-name litter-brothers, Jay Is Jay and All Natural (both also in the Selena and Mick Zammit kennel), were among the favoured runners.

Also, in that race were Bear’s Bullet (trained by Travis Elson) and Get Carter (Grant Franklin).

Bear’s Bullet won that Final and went on to even greater Group-winning heights.

Jay Is Jay, who finished fifth in last year’s Final, became a $1.5 million racing superstar before being retired to stud, while All Natural, who finished second in the state Final last year is currently out injured with a prize money pool of $328,260.

Even Get Carter (eighth last year) rose to higher prominence as a Group-class dog.

This time around in the state Final Bear’s Bullet (eighth) and Get Carter (fifth) were back and the Zammits were represented by the litter’s ‘third-best’ – Cluster.

“I am just rapt with that result,” Mick Zammit said.

Cluster won in 30.31 seconds with Duffman (Jedda Cutlack) second and Speed Zone (Travis Elson) third.

“Jay Is Jay couldn't win it last year, but Cluster has this time around. He (Cluster) is rising four, there is nothing flash about him, but he keeps on performing," Mick Zammit said.

“We never expect a lot from him, but he keeps producing. He is a bit of a kennel favourite. Everybody loves him, especially Selena.

“She will be at home watching with her mother (Lillian Jones, who owns the dog). They would have been screaming the house down. For me it is just really good to win a race like this and to represent your state.

“The thing that will be interesting is that the furthest we have ever travelled with this dog is Ipswich and Capalaba.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Ayre’s talented youngster That’s Nuts continued his impressive delivery stride towards some upcoming features with a class win in over 520 metres on Thursday night at Albion Park.

That’s Nuts overcame Autumn Storm (Tom Tzouvelis) and Nangar Gypsy (Dennis Barnes) in 30.10 seconds. 

“He is really developing into a good dog,” Ayre said.

“It would be great if he could get out of the box just a little bit better, but he worked hard to get to the lead early.

“He doesn't mind punching up like he did.

“I gave him a few weeks off. There was nothing wrong with him, I just wanted to give him a freshen up and he has come back really, really good.”

Ayre said his plan was to now target the age-restricted Molly Campbell Silver Dollars over 520 metres at Albion Park (heats on August 15 before the Final on August 22) and then head north for a crack at the Townsville Cup (heats on August 30 before the Final on September 6).

“I think he is good enough for these races. It just depends on whether he gets the luck at the start,” Ayre said.

“We went to Townsville last week for a trial and he went really well.

“That trip was more to give him some experience with the plane ride up and everything else associated with travelling.

“It wasn't just a race trial it was a trial of everything. He came through with flying colours.”

Also at Albion Park on Thursday night, Northern NSW trainer Col Graham had reason to smile after what has been a tough week.

Graham’s promising youngster Hilltop Prince looked impressive winning a 520 metre novice in 30.42 seconds. 

It was a badly needed turn of fortunes for Graham who tragically lost his sprint star King Of Aces last Sunday.

King Of Aces was a winner of eight of 16 races and $71,260 in prize money.

The Hooked On Scotch and Distant Star chaser had been a revelation for Graham early in his race career, winning at Albion Park in 29.54 seconds. 

King Of Aces had faced some injuries hurdles, but was on the road back to racing.

“The win was nice,” Graham said after Hilltop Prince saluted.

“Some good news is certainly welcome.”