Iconic Jet to fly in a different path for Nationals tilt

By Jordan Gerrans

Star dog Iconic Jet’s Brisbane Cup campaign didn’t go to plan earlier this year so the team behind the top Western Australia chaser is taking a different approach for their Nationals assault. 

Iconic Jet did not figure in the finish of a Brisbane Cup Prelude before doing similar in his heat of the series in his first couple of looks at the new Q2 Parklands circuit in June. 

Following his two-run Queensland trip, trainer Shayne Williams opted to head back across the country with his kennel star where he has since won on four occasions, including the Listed WA Sprint Championship.

That triumph qualified the 20-time career winner for Saturday’s National Sprint decider in the Sunshine State. 

Williams and Iconic Jet’s owner Carli-Ann Taylor decided to send the boom chaser across the country early to prepare for his Brisbane Cup campaign earlier this year. 

This time around, it will be a hit-and-run mission, which they hope will deliver Nationals glory for the team. 

And, the fact that Iconic Jet has raced at The Q could also be important against a field of dogs who are descending on Queensland from across the country. 

Iconic Jet is only the second dog Taylor and her partner Steve Dixon have ever owned.

Taylor is hoping flying into Brisbane later this week will help her black dog perform on the big stage. 

“We got lucky,” Taylor said of picking up a star dog so early in her ownership tenure. 

“It has been great working with Shayne, as well; he organizes everything and keeps us updated all the time. 

“We are never out of the loop. The good thing about Shayne is that he is open to changing and trying new methods.

“Hopefully only being there for a few days before the race should have us see a change this time around.”

WA greyhound Iconic Jet has drawn the five alley for Saturday’s Nationals Final over 520 metres. 

The two-year-old chaser won from out wide in the pink in Perth’s qualifying races for the Nationals, doing so in a best-of-the-night performance of 29.54 seconds as he led all the way.

Iconic Jet has since trialed at Cannington in 29.61 seconds to prepare for Saturday’s event.

"The last time we sent him over there it didn't go to plan, so this time I'll go over him and we'll keep it short, we'll turn up just a few days before rather than spend the whole week there,” trainer Williams said.

"Hopefully the dog can run well and do our state proud."

Taylor was unsure how Iconic Jet would perform in the WA state decider after he only ran fourth from the eight slot in the heat the week prior. 

“He definitely has the speed there with his trial times,” she said.

“It is just about if he can get out of that box on the night really.

“We didn’t get the results we wanted the last time we were in Queensland.”

Iconic Jet made the Silver Chief Final at Group 1 level last year.

Taylor and Dixon are set to head across the country to Queensland later this week to be at Q2 Parklands for the 2025 edition of the Nationals. 

As they are only novices when it comes to greyhound ownership, they are enjoying the ride with their classy chaser. 

They raced Iconic Indie – who won 10 races from 44 attempts - with Williams before they struck gold with Iconic Jet, who has campaigned in Group company throughout his career. 

“It is very exciting,” the owner said.

“Us being owners, it gets us to go to different tracks and states around Australia, we have been to the Meadows before, as well.

“That is so exciting for us to try something new and get out of our comfort zone really.

“We have met a lot of people along the way as well, so it has been a good social aspect of it all. We are looking forward to getting over there this weekend.”

Taylor and Dixon have two retired chasers at their Perth home and are likely to welcome Iconic Jet onto their couches once he eventually retires. 

With a tilt at the time-honoured Nationals upcoming this week, it could be a busy period for the family as they are also set to welcome a baby into the world in November. 

A top kennel in WA, Williams has often travelled dogs across the country, including winning races with Rippin' Grace, Italian Stallion and Unsee This.

Italian Stallion was placed in the 2025 Queensland Derby, Rippin' Grace finished third in the 2023 Queensland Cup while Unsee This was also placed at Group 2 level.