Caption: Trainer Selena Zammit and handler Greg Brennan with Jay Is Jay after his victory at Albion Park on Thursday night. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
By Pat Mcleod
‘The King of Albion Park’, Jay Is Jay, proved he is ready to regain his mantle as the nation’s premier sprinter, returning to The Creek on Thursday night with an all-class victory.
“That is what we wanted him to do,” a happy, but relieved Mick Zammit said after Jay Is Jay had cruised to the line in 29.63 in a Best 8 over 520m.
“We knew that he needed the run, but we also knew that he was good enough to be very competitive tonight.
“There is certainly pressure when you have got a dog like this because you want him to perform and because you know how good he is.”
‘Mick’ (Jay Is Jay’s kennel name) pushed aside any concerns, returning to racing for the first time after being scratched from the final of the Group 1 Gold Bullion on February 1 with a toe injury.
The pick of the very successful Sennachie x Kealoah litter jumped well from Box 6 and had found the rail in front as they reached the first turn.
From there he remained in control, finding the line three-and-a-half lengths ahead of Greg Stella’s Magistrate, who never threw in the towel, with Michael Lalicz’s Seaton Key third.
Jay Is Jay’s win came almost to the day, 12 months ago that he reduced the track record for the 520m at Albion Park down to 29.35.
In October last year he added to that credit by taking out the Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park, positioning him as the premier sprinter in the nation.
He was then set for Group 1 glory in the Gold Bullion, before injury struck.
This time around, the dog’s mentors, Mick and Selena Zammit, have targeted the prestigious Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park (heats March 30, semis April 6, final April 13).
Joining ‘Mick’ on that campaign will be his litter brother, and this week’s Bundaberg Cup winner, All Natural.
The Zammits are still to decide on the brotherhood’s final approach to ‘Wenty’.
“We just have to make a decision about if we are going to trial the dogs down at Wentworth Park before the series,’ Mick Zammit said.
“Jay is Jay doesn’t need to, but we may take him as well.
“I am unsure if either dog will have a start here (Albion Park) before then.
“I don’t mind racing Jay Is Jay because he goes better the more runs that he has.
“There is certainly a little bit more improvement in him, but the run tonight certainly helps.
“He has been jumping out of his skin. The injury was only a minor hiccup, but you do lose time and fitness when they are not in work.”
While rapt in Jay Is Jay’s return, Selena Zammit is reluctant to go into too much detail about her hopes for a dream result, a Golden Easter Egg win.
“That ticked all my boxes,” she said of Thursday night’s run.
“I am very happy with that. He doesn’t appear to have any problems with his toe.
“I don’t want to jinx the Egg and talk about it. The heats are still a couple of weeks away.
“It was just so pleasing to see the dog perform as he did tonight.”
Caption: Jamie Hosking’s Samurai Mind in full flight. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
Churchable trainer Jamie Hosking will head off chasing more gold at Bundaberg on Monday with a confident skip in his step after a winning treble at Thursday night’s Albion Park program.
Hosking saluted in race two with Down Size (Box 8) scoring a comfortable win in a Novice 520m event in 30.28.
In the very next race, a 4th/5th Grade 520m event, his consistent Samurai Mind was also comfortably home, by three and three quarters of a length over Reg Gardoll’s Albert’s Memory, with More Peaches (Michael Boody) third.
“I will take that, two wins in a row, at any meeting, whether it is a Thursday night or not,” a very happy Hosking said after his second collect.
“That was a PB for the dog tonight and it certainly is a fast track.”
But the young trainer wasn’t done. As he predicted, his Slippery Witch jumped well in Race 10, a 5th Grade 520m event, and although hounded early and late by Cyndie Elson’s Obliging Hope, held on to score by three-quarters of a length.
On Monday Hosking has Samurai Mind and Oh Minnie in a QGOLD Final (531m) at Bundaberg with $10,010 on offer to the winner.
He said the quick turnaround was not an issue for Samurai Mind.
“That won’t be a problem for this dog,” Hosking said.
“He was in at Capalaba on Sunday and still did well tonight.
“He likes the load and tonight you see what he can do when he has a little bit of luck.”
Another Churchable trainer, Chris Brydon, will also be joining the ‘Gold Rush’ to Bundaberg on Monday. He will return with Villante, who ran second to All Natural in last Monday’s Bundaberg Cup.
Caption: Cyndie Elson’s Cyndie’s Cyndie stamps a BON 29.58s at Albion Park on Thursday night. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
Hosking’s ‘fast track’ comment certainly appeared to be spot on in Race 4 at The Creek, a 4th Grade 520m showdown.
Cyndie Elson’s Cyndie’s Cyndie scorched to a six-length win in a very quick 29.58, setting a PB on the way.
The Dyna Double One x Cyndie’s Magic bitch held off a strong early challenge from the in-form Where’s Johnson (Greg Deering), before finding another gear on the home stretch.
Second was Rapid Ripple (Michael Lalicz) with Where’s Johnson third.
That was the third win in a row for Cyndie’s Cyndie, all over the Albion Park 520m. Her overall stats are 26 starts for 10 wins and six placings for $69,750 in prizemoney.
Giving Elson even more reason to celebrate on Thursday night was the fact that Cyndie’s Cyndie’s victory was part of a winning treble, with other winners being Obliging Warren (Race 7, a 5th Grade 600m Final) and Special Cyndie (Race 11, a Masters 5th Grade 520m).
And Tom Tzouvelis claimed a double with Tsu’tey in the opening race, a Novice (520m) and Amendola in Race 5, a FFA 710m race.
