Caption: Hall of Fame trainer Tony Zammit with De Ferran after winning the recent Ipswich Gold Cup Consolation (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)

By PAT McLEOD

There’s a chance Tony Zammit’s steely gaze will momentarily shift from the track to the stands as the boxes rise for the Queensland Flame final (520m) on Thursday night at Albion Park.

Zammit may be revered as one of greyhound racing’s greatest trainers … but he is still human and the look up will be to see who his mum is cheering for.

The 67-year-old greyhound icon has De Ferran jumping out of Box 5. On his inside, out of Box 3, is the equally potentially brilliant Jay Is Jay, who comes from Tony’s brother’s kennels – that of Michael and wife Selena Zammit.

In the stands will be their mum, Ailleen Zammit, making a rare appearance at the track these days.

“So, I wonder who she will be cheering for,” Tony joked.

“It has been a long time since mum has been to the track. Brother George (who owns the Zammit Rearing And Spelling Farm, near Ipswich) is bringing her.

“It will be a great night. Our wives, my daughter Kristy and several of the grandkids will be there.”

It will be an even better night if De Ferran or Jay Is Jay salutes.

Both Tony and Michael have won bigger races – a lot more bigger races – than the $60,000 listed Qld Flame.

Tony’s career-long success has earned him a place in the national greyhound Hall of Fame and his younger brother (by 10 years) gained the moniker ‘Group One Mick’ because of his big race success.

Across the years they and their families have grown familiar to the pop of champagne corks on gala race nights. But this Thursday night the Zammit family gathering is to wish for rare air – a stab at a $1million greyhound racing payday.

Whoever wins the Qld Flame is handed a ticket into the final of The Phoenix at Melbourne’s The Meadows on December 17.

The unique slot race concept offers $1.65million in prizemoney with $1million to the winner. This is only its second running and the concept excites Tony Zammit.

“I still get excited by certain things in greyhound racing,” he says. “I get excited about a good young dog coming through.

“When you have guided a dog through to its first start and then through the grades … that is exciting.

“And of course the bigger the race the bigger the excitement. When you have a race worth a million dollars to the winner, well there is certainly a great buzz and plenty of excitement around that.

“I would never have dreamed that there would be a race for greyhounds worth a million dollars. You see it in horse racing, but never dreamed it would happen for us.

“I remember when the Golden Easter Egg started (in 1990) and was worth $80,00 to the winner and how I thought that was so much money for one race.

“I came second in that race in 1991 with Cool Marvel behind Highly Blessed.

“But to have a chance to win through to a race that is worth a million dollars is just amazing. And you have to take your hats off to Racing Queensland for buying the slot and ensuring a Queensland greyhound has a place in the final.”

Zammit believes his dog is good enough to win on Thursday night and on December 17 … with a slice of luck.

“He (De Ferran) is good enough to win it if he has that little bit of luck early,” he said. “The thing with De Ferran is that in the first 10 to 15 metres he needs a little bit of room early to muster speed. Last week (in The Flame heats) he didn’t ping the lids, but was able to drive through under them and to get to the lead.

“De Ferran has good track sense, so can make his way through a field. He is not a mad railer and in some circumstances that can be a positive because he’s not desperate to get across.

“I don’t mind him in Box 5. He has had five starts from there and quite often he does jump quite well from there. And being in the front row, that gives him a little bit more time to settle In the box.

“It is very interesting how the draw came out for this race because I don’t think it did any dog a massive favour, but could work in my dog’s favour.

“Jedda’s (Cutlack) dog (Tungsten Miss) is in the one, but hasn’t got a lot of early pace. If Harra’s Herbie had the one then it is a different scenario, but it has the four and is a mad railer, so it will be going in. Ned’s (Snow) dog (Shipwreck) is not usually a quick starter and comes out of the seven. The six dog, Springtime Jet can start very quickly, and if it does will be out of De Ferran’s way.

“What I find interesting is Michael’s dog, Jay Is Jay, out of the three. It has a best time of 29.59, is drawn closer to the fence this week and with a second look at a high grade race, well it could be very interesting.

“He is probably the most inexperienced dog in the field, but has the time on the board to be competitive.”

Tony said that unlike many siblings there had never been rivalry between he and his brother.

“Michael and I have always helped each other, there has never been a rivalry,” he said. “It has always been a case of ‘let the best dog win’. Of course, we joke about races and what dog is going to do what.

“When you are in a race together, yes you hope your dog wins, but we always congratulate each other depending on who wins.

“As brothers we remain close. We talk often. We do use each other as a sounding board.

“Michael started off with me when we first started in dogs. He lived with my wife Maree and I. And then he was given the opportunity to go out on his own and he did with success.

“In fact, Michael met his wife Selena through us. We were good friends with her father (prominent greyhound figure Jeff Jones).

“We are lucky in that Selena (now a high-profile trainer in her own right) and my wife both are involved in greyhounds.

“As far as the training goes, Michael and I have very similar training routines.”

Tony is looking forward to the family gathering on Thursday night as much as the Flame final.

“This is a really good way to start the Golden Greys Summer Carnival,” he said. “I’m just rapt that Michael and I can be part of it with two talented young dogs.”