Origin ‘decider’ has already been decided suggests Stella

By Pat McLeod

Astute Queensland greyhound mentor Greg Stella is confident the Maroons are already one-up going into Thursday night’s three-race Origin Greyhound Series showdown at Albion Park.

The absorbing Origin clash is building as an action-packed blockbuster with Queensland’s and New South Wales’ best clashing over distance, sprint and then, the potential decider, a match-race between the state’s fastest two dogs - Jays Is Jay (Queensland) against Simply Limelight (NSW).

However Stella, who will campaign the blossoming Magistrate in the sprint race over 520 metres, suggests the decider has already been decided.

“If it comes down to the decider, Jay Is Jay looks unbeatable,” Stella said. 

“There is no doubt Simply Limelight is a fast dog, but he is not a natural leader and as a rule is normally slow early.

“If that is the case, I could not imagine any dog running Jay Is Jay down if he jumped on the bunny.”

Stella says the distance and sprint encounters are the complete opposite.

“The first two are very open races and I do not think there is a stand out in either,” he said.

“Cash Master (trained by Bob Cooke) is like a local, but the others from NSW have not had a lot of experience on the track, but they are quality dogs.

“So, I think they're both even races.

“But, the match race looks pretty obvious. If you are coming down to that race at one-all, you would back the Maroons.”

Mick Zammit, who is part of the Jay Is Jay training team with wife Selena, was chuffed with Stella’s confidence in his dog, but he was slightly more subdued in his appraisal.

“Look, there is an advantage in that this is his (Jay Is Jay’s) home track, he is the record holder there and he flies there, but you still need to do everything right,” Mick said.

“I have a lot of respect for the other dog. He won an Easter Egg and they don't give those away.

“We obviously think our dog is a great chance. But, you never know what will happen in a race.

“What I do know is he is super fit and ready for Thursday.”

Mick did agree with Stella’s thoughts on the opening Origin Greyhound Series clashes.

“I think this will be a very close event,” Mick said.

“I think we have got chances in both the sprint and distance, but it could go either way.

“There will be some pressure on us if it is one-all and there is every chance that could be the case.”

Magistrate’s selection for the Origin Greyhound Series is the culmination of a surprising run of success for the Fernando Bale - Inspired Hope chaser.

Stella always knew the dog had ability, but his recent accomplishments have exceeded all expectations.

“I did not expect Magistrate to rise to the level that he has in recent races,” he said.

“With an ounce of luck he could have got through in the Flying Amy last week (he ran third). It was an amazing run by Magistrate.

“This dog always had raw ability, but certainly was struggling over 500 metres. I have seen it with dogs in the past, as they mature with racing they can improve over a distance. He has certainly taken a step up in his past handful of starts.

“The dog always had a good will to win, but I honestly did not think he had a chance in the Flying Amy. I nominated him because I thought he was worthy of a run in the heat.

“Then he has qualified for the Final (with the fastest heat run) and we were certainly very happy that he ran third.

“Then I got a phone call on Monday morning to say that they had selected him for the Origin Greyhound Series, something that had not even entered my mind, to be quite honest.

“Now he is in the red box and not without a chance.”

Magistrate started his career extremely well taking out the Ipswich 431 metre Auction race Final. He also won the 520 metre version.