Zammit kennel are proud winners of the annual Michael Miller Memorial

By Jordan Gerrans

Promising youngster Another Chance is yet to be beaten in his four career efforts for the strong Zammit kennel.

All four have come down the grass straight at Capalaba.

The latest of the four victories – which came on Sunday afternoon – had extra significance over the first three for the Zammit’s.

Sunday’s event was annual Michael Miller Memorial, which remembers a greyhound enthusiast who tragically lost his life in a car accident back in 1998.

The Miller family have been in dogs for generations – as have the Zammit’s – and sadly, Michael died driving home from a greyhound meeting at Toowoomba.

Kennel representative Michael Zammit recalled his association with the Miller family a few days after claiming the race named in his honour.

The Zammit kennel ran one-two in the 366 metre Final, with kennel mate Velocity Kyra running into second, as Another Chance hit the winning post in 19.70 seconds. 

“I knew his parents quite well, I knew his sister,” Michael said after winning the time-honoured event.

“His father Merv had dogs before he passed away himself.

“I knew Merv since I was a kid – and I knew his father as well – and I was around Michael growing up.”

Just 18 years of age, Miller was a greyhound industry lover before his death. 

He was the starter of races at the Toowoomba greyhounds before the track closed over two decades ago.

The memorial race was first run at the Darling Downs-based club in in 1999 and has been run at Capalaba in every year since 2002.

Renowned poet Rupert McCall penned a piece about Miller following his death.

“He was a model human being as a teenager, he was the starter at the races and was always well presented and spoken,” Zammit remembers.

“He had a good job and was a good kid.

“It was sad what happened to him and it is a sad part of life.”

Zammit applauded Capalaba’s efforts to continue on Miller’s legacy.

“It is good that the memory lives on when they run races like this,” he said.

“The family contributed in a lot of different ways and they were right into the dogs.”

From a My Redeemer and Lilly Sur Seine litter, Another Chance will remain at the grass track for another couple of weeks at least, headed towards Sunday’s Young Guns heats.

The Willow Vale kennel of the Zammit’s eventually see the Dark Brindle Dog making his way to Albion Park following his successful stint at Capalaba.

“We have not done a lot with him but he probably surprised us a bit as he improved three or four lengths up the straight,” he said.

“That is a fair bit, which is good.

“We are really happy with what he is doing.”