Jay Is Jay Wins Queensland's First Million Dollar Chase

Jay Is Jay's time was not as quick as any of the five previous winners but the Queenslander's performance to take out Friday night's Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase was arguably the most tenacious and certainly among the most impressive.

Trained by Selena and Michael Zammit, Jay Is Jay appeared to stumble coming out of the boxes but railed into third place going through the catching pen behind outsider Cumbria Kid and his arch rival, the $2.40 favourite Postman Pat.

But Jay Is Jay, the $3.10 second favourite, got the better of Postman Pat leaving the back straight and dashed to the lead approaching the home bend.

He then staved off a late rally from Cumbria Kid to win by a half-length in 29.76, with Postman Pat a gallant third, a length away.

Jay Is Jay covered the 520m in 29.76, .44sec outside the race record set by She's A Pearl early last year.

Jay Is Jay had attempted to quality in the regional series at Grafton but after he finished fourth in the September 24 final Selena Zammit recalled: "I told Michael if he can't even finish third at Grafton how can he win the final at Wentworth Park?"

Undeterred, the Zammits brought Jay Is Jay to Sydney for the Wentworth Park qualifiers and after overcoming a first turn check to win his heat on September 30 in 29.93 he posted a flying 29.45 to land his "sudden death" semi-final on October 6.

Jay Is Jay's victory represents a classic "family affair" situation as the dog is owned by Selena Zammit's mother, Lillian Jones, and was named after her late husband, Selena's father Jeff Jones.

Lillian Jones owns Kealoah, the dam of Jay Is Jay and the final greyhound her husband had trained.

The Zammit family have a long connection with racing as Michael's brother Tony Zammit trained Trojan Tears, the 1993 NSW Greyhound of the Year, while their father, the late Sam Zammit, was a harness racing legend who won the first race conducted under lights at Albion Park in September, 1968.

Selena and Michael Zammit were understandably elated at snaring the $1 million cheque for the world's richest greyhound race, but almost as excited was Steve Fitch, owner-trainer of the runner-up Cumbria Kid.

Fitch, who collected a not too shabby $100,000 for his dog's mighty effort, was punching the air and waving to friends in the grandstand immediately after the race.

He could have been forgiven for being disappointed as Cumbria Kid might have forced Jay Is Jay into a close photo finish had he not checked off the winner's heels when angling for a run in the home straight.

Most emotional win of the night was Zipping Vanessa's success in the $100,000 to the winner Sydney Cup, with trainer John Finn and his wife Melinda watching the event unfold from their home at Cranebrook.

Their daughter-in-law Courtney Barnes handled Zipping Vanessa and said later: "John is really battling health-wise at the moment and Minnie (Melinda) won't leave him alone.

"They got a tremendous thrill from Zipping Vanessa's win and John especially really needed this boost.''

Zipping Vanessa did indeed give the Finns a tonic as while she jumped in front and led throughout to win her 720m Cup heat in 41.54, she was slowly away and midfield early in the final.

Zipping Vanessa surged into second position going through the catching pen and snatched the lead from brave pacemaker Ritza Piper on the back straight to win by just over four lengths in 41.81.

The win took Zipping Vanessa's Wentworth Park staying record to seven wins from nine appearances.

Fernando Hunter, the $2.70 favourite, displayed remarkable determination to run down Victoria's Stout Monelli to win Friday's Masters Meteor in 29.87.

Most experts thought Fernando Hunter would be the pacemaker from box one but Stout Monelli, a noted strong finisher, led clearly around the first turn and retained the advantage on the back straight.

But Fernando Hunter, raced by a syndicate headed by prolific group one winning jockey Brenton Avdulla, railed to the lead near the home turn and drew clear in the straight.

Trainer Michelle Sultana's partner, fellow trainer Darryl Thomas, said after the race: "I wasn't surprised he came from behind to win, there aren't many greyhounds Fernando Hunter would not be capable of running down.''

Time honours on Friday night were with the Jason Magri-trained Zipping Megatron, who was sent out a $1.70 favourite and led throughout to land the MDC Maiden Final in a blistering 29.42.

Zipping Megatron bungled the start hopelessly in his heat but scrambled into Friday's final through a fast finishing second with trainer Jason Magri commenting: "That's how I expected him to jump in his heat.

"He is an exciting prospect and now I will take him through his grades at Wenty and hopefully have him ready for the National Derby in January.''

Rocket Riot, who reeled off a dazzling first split of 5.34 to win his heat in 29.61, trimmed those figures to an even more electrifying 5.33 to lead all the way in Friday's Young Star final, winning by just on six lengths in 29.64 for owner Jimmy Vescos and trainer, dual MDC winner Peter Legogiane.