Cluster wins 2024 QGOLD Winter Sprint for Zammits
Mick and Selena Zammit won the opening feature final of the 2024 Queensland Winter Carnival on Day 1 of the carnival, when Cluster won the QGOLD Winter Sprint.
Originally scheduled as a heats and finals series, the QGOLD Winter Sprint ended up being run as a straight-out Best 8 final, which proved to be a blessing for the well-related Cluster.
Cluster, who is a group-class greyhound in his own right, having finished fourth in the 2024 Group 1 Gold Bullion at Albion Park, is a litter brother and kennel mate to high profile group performer and Gold Bullion runner-up All Natural, and 2023 Queensland Greyhound Of The Year and Million Dollar Chase winner Jay Is Jay.
Lillian Jones, the late Queensland greyhound icon Jeff Jones' wife, owns the red fawn dog in the same interests as Jay Is Jay.
Keeping it a family affair, Lillian Jones is the mother of trainer Selena Zammit.
Drawing box 8 for the $25,090 to-the-winner QGOLD Winter Sprint final, Cluster was able to race up outside early leader Cincinnati Lana heading through the first corner.
Getting the better of the Elson family-trained Cincinnati Lana as the two greyhounds entered the straight, Cluster had to withstand a determined finish from another in-form Elson runner, Bears Bullet.
Cluster, though, was able to find the finish line in 30.22, 1.0 lengths in advance of the fast finishing Bear's Bullet, with Seaton Key also running on to steal third from Cincinnati Lana, 1.5 lengths from the winner.
2024 QGOLD Winter Sprint Final – Cluster (30.22) T: Selena Zammit
Trainer Selena Zammit paid tribute to the lesser-known sibling of All Natural and Jay Is Jay saying,”That was amazing.”
“He is the underrated brother.
“He isn't as fast as his two brothers, but he has got as much heart as his brothers and just tries his guts out every time.
“I just love him to bits,” Zammit said post race.
Cluster, like his higher-profile siblings, is a son of Sennachie and Kealoah.
The red fawn dog has now had 50 race starts for 17 wins and 21 minor placings.
The 33-kg dog has now won connections $127,190 in prizemoney.
The win was all the more special as the connections won the same race last year with Jay Is Jay, and backed up that win with litter brother Cluster this year.
“It is freakish what is happening with these three dogs. How do you explain it?
“How do you put it into words?” Zammit said.
To emphasise how good this litter has been, Cluster and his littermates have now won 104 races between them and $2.27 million in prizemoney.
With All Natural and Jay Is Jay missing the QGOLD Winter Sprint through injury, all three greyhounds will press on for more riches through the 2024 Queensland Winter Carnival.
2024 QGOLD Winter Sprint
2024 QGOLD Winter Sprint Results Albion Park 520m No Status $25,090 to-the-winner Thursday, May 16, 2024 30.22
|
|
| 1st |
8 Cluster
T: Selena Zammit 30.22 – $25,090 +450
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| 2nd |
7 Bear's Bullet
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| 3rd |
4 Seaton Key
T: Michael Lalicz 30.32 1.5 lengths $3,860 +200
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| 4th |
2 Cincinnati Lana
T: Cyndie Elson 30.36 2 lengths $1,920 +4000
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| 5th |
5 Samurai Mind
T: Jamie Hosking 30.51 4.25 lengths +2000
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| 6th |
3 Villante
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| 7th |
6 Double Up Bill
T: Travis Elson 30.83 8.75 lengths +900
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| 8th |
1 Oh Minnie
T: Jamie Hosking 31.72 21.25 lengths +1500
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