Music Event on song for Super Sprinters

Image credit: Sandown Greyhound Racing Club

By Isaac Murphy

Queensland’s top dogs have had to contend with the recent cold, but for Shepparton product Music Event - who’s spending the Carnival with Selena and Mick Zammit - it’s been about acclimatising to the heat since arriving from Victoria.

The sprinter made his much-anticipated Queensland debut in last Thursday’s Best 8 and didn’t disappoint, running a bold 29.78 that made Mick Zammit confident he’d settled into his temporary home and be a big threat in this week's Listed Super Sprinters.

“He’s been with us for a month now and temperament wise he’s settled in fine we were just hoping he’d jump a bit better last Thursday night, but to still manage 29.78 behind Kooringa Lucy first up at Albion Park was very encouraging,” Mick Zammit said. 

“He ended up going down to Kooringa Lucy by two-and-a-quarter lengths, we’re confident he can make most of that up in the run to the first mark and he’ll be stronger second up under race conditions in this week’s Super Sprinters.

“His form had been as solid as anything in Victoria, and we were just chuffed that with almost a month between runs he’s clearly going just as well I his new environment.”

The dog had to work overtime from box eight to find the front in his Queensland debut and will have to repeat the dose to be a threat to some serious rivals.

“We would have loved and inside draw for the Super Sprinters this week, but connections did tell us he had plenty of race sense from a wide draw which he showed from the eight last week and should do again from the seven on Thursday,” Zammit said.

“The run to the first mark is going to be crucial, we’ve got Qwara Bale and Equalizer drawn directly inside us who’re both stronger dogs, but we’ve got a real chance to pinch a good gap on them going down the back.

“It’s going to be a great audition for the Brisbane Cup heats next week. There’s quality wherever you look, the two Victorians I mentioned are flying, then you’ve got the locals in Limited Edition and Extra Malt - it’s a cracking race.”

Music Event has made his name with searing early pace and Zammit knows if he can produce his best, he’s a chance against any field.

“To be a genuine hope in this race and the Brisbane Cup he’s got to lean on his biggest strength and that’s his box manners,” he said.

"He’s had a box-to-box up here and run in the low 5.40s to the first mark; we know he can do it, he just hasn’t produced that on race day.

“As we saw with Orchestrate in Origin last week, you might not be the fastest dog in the race, but if you go 5.43 to the mark and the track is running hot, you’re going to be next to impossible to run down and that’s what this dog is capable of.”

The kennel was dealt a cruel blow on the eve of the Carnival when Sequana partially tore a pin muscle ruling her out of her home races, but they’ve been counting their blessings with the arrival of a comparable talent.

“We were pretty excited when we got the call from the owner Steven Jones a little over a month ago about taking him for the rest of the Carnival, you’ve only got to look at who he’s been racing in Victoria to know he’s top class,” Zammit said.

“Everything Steven and his regular trainer Mick Carter have told us has been spot on and has really helped us make sure he’s at the peak of his powers approaching the races that count.

“Unfortunately for us Sequana wasn’t able to get up for Origin and won’t be running in the Brisbane Cup either, so we can pour all our energy into making sure this dog gets every hope.”