Golden Ticket win sets up waiting game for Zammits and Jay Is Jay

By Pat McLeod

Mick Zammit is playing the waiting game.

The experienced trainer, and wife Selena, have successfully manoeuvred their freakishly fast Jay Is Jay through to the Final of the $375,000 Group 1 Gold Bullion Final over 520 metres at Albion Park on February 1.

Now it is a case of waiting to see who will be joining them.

“The interest now is the box draw and who we will be racing against and we will know both of those after Thursday’s heats,” Mick said.

Jay Is Jay progressed through the postponed Golden Ticket match-race Final at 'The Creek' on Saturday, winning in a scorching 29.37 seconds. 

The Golden Ticket winner gets direct entry into the Gold Bullion Final.

“That win, that time, well it was just unbelievable, fantastic," Mick said.

“His start was the best part of that Golden Ticket win. Obviously the whole race was great, but it is always great when they begin. The one really good thing at Albion is that he has been coming out consistently and running in the low 5.50 seconds. Twelve months ago he wasn't running consistently around that mark.

“Sure, there are dogs that will start quicker than that, but generally if you have a dog that is running around the 5.50 second mark, you are going pretty well. In a full field race such as the Gold Bullion that means if you are in the first couple going to the first corner, then obviously you are in better shape.”

Jay Is Jay comfortably accounted for Col Graham’s King Of Aces (29.86 seconds) in their match race in Saturday morning’s $60,000-to-the-winner, Group 2 Golden Ticket Final. 

Western Australia’s Saige Tenniele (trained by Kody Charles) found her Albion Park form with a 29.61 second run to claim second in the series, with Hello Mike (Travis Elson) third in 29.85 seconds. 

Mick and Selena are now in the same position as any sports entity that skips a week by winning directly through to the 'big dance'.

Is the week off a help or a hindrance?

“You certainly can’t complain about winning straight through to the Final,” Mick said.

“So, I wouldn’t swap places with anyone.

“But, theoretically, I would rather be racing this week. Jay Is Jay is in great form and loves racing week-in, week-out.

“But, that is only in theory. The fact is we couldn’t be happier than where we are sitting right now. We are in it and off his last run he is going sensationally.

“Most likely we will give him a trial at Albion Park leading into the Final, and whether that is a box-to-box or a post-to-post, I am not sure at this stage.”

Jay is Jay’s 29.37 second run on Saturday is the second fastest time over track and distance. 

‘J’ set the current record at 29.35 seconds in March last year, lowering the 29.38 second mark set by his father, Sennachie, in July, 2019.

Postman Pat ran 29.39 seconds at 'The Creek' in June last year.

Mick Zammit refused to speculate on whether the ‘J Factor’ could lower his own record.

“No, I am not going to answer that one,” he said, before adding with a laugh.

“I’m too busy ‘batching’.

“Selena is in Tassie on holidays with her mum (Lillian, who owns Jay Is Jay) and other family. They watched the Golden Ticket race at Burnie.

“I’ve just put a massive load of washing out on the line and according to the radar it’s about to rain, so I’ll probably have to go out and bring it all in again."

It was a big weekend for the Zammit clan.

Mick’s brother Tony Zammit successfully guided staying star Valpolicella to victory at Wentworth Park on Saturday night in the $40,000-to-the-winner Group 2 Summer Distance Plate Final over 720 metres at Wentworth Park.

Valpolicella will now return home to Albion Park for this Thursday night’s heats of the Group 1 Gold Cup heats over 710 metres.

Also on Saturday night, Tony Zammit’s Callisto booked a place in the semi-finals of the prestigious Vince Curry Memorial Maiden over 520 metres next Saturday night with a 30.95 second win in the opening heat of that event.

Fastest of the eight heat winners was Comedy Act (30.50 seconds) trained by Mick Johnston from Ipswich.