Zammit’s ‘Cowboy’ set for quick draw in Rising Stars

By Josh Spasaro

With the way Neame jumps so well at box rise, he is mature beyond his years.

And, like the star North Queensland Cowboys rugby league player who he is named after, the ‘big stage’ does not faze him.

Combine that with the fact he already boasts an outstanding record of nine wins from 13 starts and he only turns two on Thursday, then it is obvious the blue fawn dog has a big future.

Thursday night is also when the developing juvenile will have the benefit of box two for the $45,005 Rising Stars Final over 520 metres at Q2 Parklands.

Neame goes into the title decider after an impressive heat performance, beating Sironen Tiger by half-a-length and crossing the line in 29.73 seconds.

It was the second-fastest time behind Zipping Urban for Tom Tzouvelis, who recorded 29.56 seconds and won his heat by five-and-a-half lengths.

Indeed, it is so far so good for Neame, with Yatala-based Hall of Fame trainer Tony Zammit holding a high opinion of him.

“He’s probably one of the quickest beginners I’ve had for many years,” Zammit said.

“I had a bitch years ago called Conquering Wind. She ran about 10 seconds in a row. She’d absolutely ping the lids and get out in front.

“She was the last time I had as good a beginner as this dog. I’m happy with the way he’s going. He’s got a very relaxed nature. Nothing bothers him.

“He’s really relaxed at the track. He doesn’t get excited or anything like that.

“He’s a very good dog to handle. He’s only had about a dozen starts. So, I’m just taking my time with him, letting him get through his grades and then see if he gets stronger with a bit of age.”

No doubt, it was an impressive win from Neame over Sironen Tiger – named after legendary rugby league player Paul Sironen – in his heat.

But, Zammit is expecting Darren Russell’s chaser to be an even tougher opponent for Neame from the one box this week.

“You’ve got the Vince Curry-winner in the one. He beat him by about a neck last week,” he said.

“Darren’s dog was about five lengths behind him down the back straight and he got within about a neck at the finish.

“He’s got the one box. So that puts him in the race if he begins. He didn’t begin that well last week.

“I was expecting him to be two lengths off him around the first corner and maybe three-and-a-half lengths off him into the back straight.

“He didn’t begin all that well, Darren’s dog. But, if he can begin better from the one, it makes him very competitive, as well.”

Zammit added Thursday night will be Neame’s toughest test of his career thus far.

“He’s only just turned two and he’s only had 13 starts,” he said of his dog by Hooked On Scotch.

“He’s got a future ahead of him. He’s still got a couple of low-grade races that he’s eligible for besides this race.

“This is probably the hardest race he’s met so far coming into a Final like this.

“He’s well-rated on his early speed, put it that way. He can’t come from behind against dogs like that.

“So, you’re hoping he can come out as good as he did last week.”

Despite being an excellent starter, Zammit admits Neame is ‘not who you’d call a real strong 520 metre dog’.

But, that is something he is confident will improve.

Neame's dam Ladies Get Grace mostly ran sprint distances in a career that saw her record 14 wins from 44 starts.

“She was only a sprinter herself. And, there are a couple of others in the litter – Terry Priest has got one (Dearden),” Zammit said.

“He’s won a 350 metre race and a 390 metre race. My brother Michael has got one from the same litter (Grace Ile).

“She came on season, but I think Michael has got her nearly ready to start again. She’s only a sprinter, as well.

“Neame is probably the only one in that litter who’s run a solid 500 metres at this stage.

“The guy who owns him (Neame), Laurie Wode, he comes from Townsville. That was how he got the name, Neame.

“He’s a Cowboys football player. That was why he named him after him.”

Wode will come down from North Queensland to watch his chaser in the Rising Stars Final at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

“Laurie is coming down with a few people on the Final night,” Zammit said.

“I think Laurie said it was his first city winner.”