Mackay Readies For His Own Nationals ‘Moment'

WHILE the Zammit kennel appears to dominate the Queensland final of the National Sprint with three finalists including raging hot favourite Jay Is Jay, trainer Gary Mackay is having his own Nationals ‘moment' at Albion Park on Thursday night. 

Mackay has Select Moment in the Queensland Distance final and Fernando Grand in the Sprint decider.

It is a “select moment” for the trainer who has only a small team in training at his base on the way to the Gold Coast.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY

Select Moment (Sennachie-Paua To Admit) has drawn perfectly in the three box in the Distance but makes her 710m Albion Park debut brought about by the unique qualification process for the Distance series throughout the country.

But that is hardly a worry for Mackay because two starts back the bitch led throughout for a dashing win in the 732m Grand Prix at Ipswich when making her distance debut.

Fernando Grand (Fernando Bale-Precious Sal) has drawn the six in the Sprint and he comes into the final off a third to Jay Is Jay in the heats last week but beaten eight and a half lengths.

Ipswich Sat July 23 2022
Young Guns Ht 3. 520m
1st – Box 4 Select Moment – Gary Mackay
2nd – Box 5 Dixie Gambles – Ken Boody
30.77 (5.36 – 13.38 – 12.03) 2 x 6 1/4
Come On Aussie – 31.34 (3rd) pic.twitter.com/WqeAXyxQU3

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) July 23, 2022

Mackay is confident Select Moment, the winner of 14 of 46 starts, can lead and be tough to run down on Thursday night.

“Right from the get go as a youngster this bitch showed she was strong, strong, strong,” said Gary.

“In the runs as a pup we had to stop her from working so hard.

“That strength is amazing considering her littermates are all very good dogs, but only sprinters, and all her half relations are sprinters as well.”

Mackay gave the bitch a 600m warm-up last Thursday night in preparation for the Distance final and she was third to Adulate in 35.13.

“I can't get her any fitter and she has not needed to do anything between that run and Thursday night's race,” he said.

Mackay believes Days Of Thunder is the one to beat despite the presence of recent Group 1 Queensland Cup runner-up Locked On Scotch.

“If Locked On Scotch gets over and leads, I'm confident we can sit behind him and run him down,” said Gary.

“He's not overly strong over the distance.”

Mackay was supremely confident when Select Moment led throughout to win the Grand Prix at Ipswich winning in 43.88 by five lengths over Hidden Agenda.

“She does love racing at Ipswich,” he said.

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JAY Is Jay has improved on his much needed outing in last week's Queensland Sprint heat when winning by six and a half lengths in 29.83.

That's the opinion of Mick Zammit whose wife Selena trains the dog for her mum Lillian Jones.

“We knew he needed the run last week and it took its toll on him,” said Mick. “It took him a bit to get over the race.

“But, he's bouncing now and from the one he really gets his chance.”

Zammit said Bears Bullet, an ultra reliable beginner, holds the key to the race.

“Our own dog, All Natural, has a lot of pace as well but he will be going to get across,” he said.

“Panama Pepper is a very good dog but I'm not sure the eight suits it.

“We can't complain about the box for Jay Is Jay and he gets his chance.”

Jay Is Jay (Sennachie-Kealoah) has raced 27 times for 13 wins and eight placings earning $292,000.

He is the track record holder at 29.35, a record he took from his sire Sennachie back in March.