Caption: Selena and Mick Zammit with Jay Is Jay – one of the many snapshots from their highlights reel so far. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)

By Pat McLeod

Selena Zammit’s childhood dream of winning the prestigious Group 1 Golden Easter Egg takes a giant step towards reality on Thursday night at Albion Park with the re-emergence of sprint star Jay Is Jay.

‘The King of Queensland greyhound racing’ has been sidelined with a toe injury since being scratched from the Gold Bullion Final on February 1.

However, in his absence, his full brother, All Natural, has shown true royal ability.

‘The Spare’ was beaten a nose by Victoria’s Morton, in the Gold Bullion. He then went on to win the Group 3 $112,500 Bundaberg Cup on Monday.

In fact, All Natural has won 10 of his past 11 starts, with his only ‘miss’ being the Gold Bullion.

Selena’s dream since she was 13 years old and watched the Golden Easter Egg live with her father (highly respected greyhound identity the late Jeff Jones) is to one day win that trophy.

 “I was at the track with dad, and I saw that trophy for the first time,” she explained.

“I was amazed by it. I knew then that was what I wanted. Since then, my dream in greyhound racing is to hold that egg.

“Of all the trophies that are available in greyhound racing, out of all the races in greyhound racing, I want a golden egg. I want that trophy.”

Now, she has two red fawn dogs in her kennel that can realise that dream, with the heats of the Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park on March 30 and the final on April 13.

“I am so excited that Mick (Jay Is Jay’s kennel name) is returning to the track on Thursday night,” she said, with Jay Is Jay to jump from Box 6 in a Best 8 (520m).

“He is in great shape, going perfect.

“There is still so much that Jay Is Jay can achieve. He has still 12 to 18 months of racing left.

“If he stays fit and well we will be flying around the country with him for all the races.

“But, I don’t think he needs to achieve anything more on the track than he has already done.

“He has already stamped his authority. There is nothing to prove.

“Anything from here is a bonus.”

And now All Natural, with prizemoney nearing $300,000, is worthy of more than a mere mention in Jay Is Jay’s credits.

“I thought All Natural’s run in the Bundaberg Cup was just brilliant,” Selena said.

“I couldn’t fault him. He didn’t give anyone a chance once those lids opened.

“Bam Bam (All Natural’s kennel name) came back from a recent injury as a much more complete race dog. So mature.

“He was the fastest in the litter when we first took them trialing.

“But then when he began racing it was as though he had forgotten how to be fast.

“We were all bewildered.

“But since that recent injury break he is stronger, more consistent and definitely more mature.”

Selena said she does ‘feel the emotion’ whenever Jay Is Jay races.

“When ‘Mick’ won the Million Dollar Chase in Sydney I received a text from a woman who said she and her partner had flown all the way from Mackay to Sydney to watch our dog race,” she said.

“I do feel that support for the dog and it is amazing.”

Selena said she still becomes very emotional about the connection between Jay Is Jay, All Natural and her father.

The dogs’ mother, Kealoah, was the last greyhound Jeff Jones trained before he passed away in 2018.

She is owned by Selena’s mother Lillian.

“As good as Jay Is Jay is and now what All Natural is showing, I am just in awe of the whole litter and especially the mother, Kealoah,” she said.

“I just look at her every day as she runs around our property and I think of dad.

“She has brought us so many happy memories. I think of how amazing she is and the litter of pups born just over three years ago and what an emotional, but also very happy ride it has been so far.”

Jay Is Jay won’t be gifted a winning return on Thursday night with the track record holder facing some quality opposition.

Perfectly positioned in Box 1 is frequent sparring partner, Greg Stella’s Magistrate.

In boxes two and three respectively are former top NSW performers, Modern Swinger (Eric Conroy) and Seaton Key (Michael Lalicz).

Jay Is Jay’s kennelmate Another Chance will exit Box 7.