Caption: Well know wagering identity Gerard Daffy.
By Pat McLeod
Wagering icon Gerard Daffy has a simple slogan for how the current Queensland Golden Greys Summer Carnival will play out: ‘It’s going to be the Zammit Show!’
“That is my overview of the carnival and my strong tip,” said Sky Racing’s Daffy, one of the most recognized and respected media identities across the betting landscape.
“Mick and Selena Zammit have the exceptionally good sprinter Jay is Jay. While in the staying ranks, Tony Zammit has Valpolicella, a legitimate star and Mick and Selena have Icy Eyes.
“We all know the Zammit name in Queensland, what terrific trainers and what terrific people they are.
“Interstate, some people know the Zammits, but I think they saw a different level of the Zammits when Jay is Jay won the Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth park.
“As Jay Is Jay and Valpolicella campaigned south, the southerners did not only see quality training and quality dogs, but they also saw how close that family is.
“They saw how good at their craft they are.”
Daffy expects that star quality to continue to permeate through the Golden Greys Carnival, with Jay is Jay as the feature standout.
“Jay Is Jay is a massive, massive drawcard for the Brisbane club and this carnival,” he said.
“He has the records. Not only does he have the 520m record at Albion Park (29.35secs), but he also has a great record at the track of running consistently fast times.
“Up until a couple of months ago a few people down South knew of the dog, but now people who don’t even follow greyhounds know the story of this Million Dollar Chase winner
“That is why he is such a massive draw card.
“It will be interesting to see which southerners come up for the carnival, but there is no doubt Jay Is Jay has got to be one of the favourites to win the feature sprints, culminating in the Group 1 Gold Bullion (520m) on February 1.
“Whoever is coming up from down south, they won’t be scrubbers, they will be legitimate Group One dogs. Their trainers know how formidable Jay Is Jay is, especially on his home track.
“He is the record holder. He can handle any box. He loves the track. He can win from any position.
“He is such a thorough chaser.”
Despite Daffy’s admiration for Jay Is Jay isn’t at the exclusion of other ‘local’ threats.
“With Jay Is Jay and Bear’s Bullet (Travis Elson), the locals have a legitimate two-pronged attack on the feature sprint races,” he said.
“Bear’s Bullet is a brilliant beginner, can run time and has proven success.
“And there are other quality local sprinters as well. Get Carter has a massive engine, which we saw in the Ipswich cup, when he was beaten by a pimple by Bear’s Bullet.
“He is definitely a better race dog than he was six months ago and is showing real grit and stamina.
“I would expect him to contest most races that he is in because he is in such great form.”
Daffy said this carnival would also highlight the across the board quality of the local chasers.
“I believe the current crop (of Queensland greyhounds) is as good as we have ever had,” he said.
“It is sometimes difficult and unfair to compare across eras, but one thing you can’t argue with his time.
“I know that tracks have got better, and quicker, but you can still only run as fast as the clock will allow you to.
“But Jay Is Jay’s performance on the clock is phenomenal.
“We have had a number of (interstate) dogs come here this year, especially during the winter carnival, and they have not been able to run those times.”
Daffy also has a high opinion of Tony Zammit’s Valpolicella.
“If you are framing a market now, and considering that other dogs will be coming up for the big carnival races, Valpolicella would have to be the favourite to win the main distance race (the Group 1 Gold Cup, 710m, on February 1,” he said.
“Valpolicella can lead and can also come off the pace.
“The thing about her and Icy Eyes, is that they can both run time. They are winning races and running good times.
“And they also know this track.”
Daffy said despite the length of the Golden Greys Summer Carnival, starting with the Queensland Flame on November 30 and extending through to the Vince Curry Memorial Maiden at Ipswich on February 3, he does not expect it to lose momentum.
“There are so many different features across different distances etc, so the mix is great,” he said.
“Because of that mix where to focus isn’t continually on one event or one dog, it really is a special carnival.”
Looking beyond this carnival and well into 2024 Daffy predicts a golden era for greyhound racing in the Sunshine State.
“Prizemoney has always been the best barometer of how a state is going in this sport,” he said.
“Well, ‘Tick’, Queensland has that covered.
“We have the three new tracks coming up with safety as the main focus – ‘Tick’.
“Queensland also has the right climate for year-round racing.
“I am tipping when that new complex (The Q) opens, there will be an absolute influx of southerners coming to Queensland permanently.
“Stand by for the invasion!”
Daffy said Sky Racing would be focusing on Albion Park across the carnival’s feature nights starting on January 4 with the Group 1 Golden Sands and Derby and Futurity.
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Jay Is Jay stamped his authority on the Golden Greys Summer Carnival, taking out the opening event, winning the Queensland Flame Final (520m) by four-and-a-half lengths in an impressive 29.52.
“That is sensational. It is amazing,” Mick Zammit said after the win.
“We ran second in The Flame last year when he was a pup and tonight he dominated.
“He has grown into a really good race dog, a great race dog. He is also super-fast. Not many dogs can run the time that he does around here (Albion Park) consistently.
Second in The Flame was recent Group 1 Ipswich Gold Cup runner-up Get Carter (Grant Franklin) and third was Greg Stella’s consistent group campaigner Magistrate, who led Jay Is Jay out of the first corner.
