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Jay Is Jay has been retired following a glorious racing career winning 22 races and $1.55 million in stakes.

The last and final time Jay Is Jay took to our Meadows track was in the The Phoenix 2023. Representing Racing Queensland, after winning his place through the Queensland Flame, he ran an honourable 7th.

It’s a timely retirement knowing that The Phoenix 2024 slots have just opened, and again, the successful slot holders will be chasing a chaser. Jay Is Jays’ only other start at The Meadows was in the 2022 Group 1 Topgun, where he run a brave second to Transponder in a field bursting with high end speed and talent.

Trainer Selena Zammit, her husband Mick, and mum Lillian Jones the dog’s breeder and owner, made the announcement today with Jay Is Jay retiring after 43 starts for 22 wins, 10 placings and earnings of $1.55 million.

“His past couple of starts have not been what we have come to know from such a great dog,” said Mick Zammit today of the son of Sennachie.

“We have taken him to Liz Brown (Casino Vet Clinic) to start the process of getting him ready for an upcoming stud career.

“One of the first priorities we have is to remove, on Liz’s advice, a retained testicle.”

No stud fee has been announced for the great dog which should be ready to start his stud career come August 2024. Jay Is Jay, the 2023 Queensland greyhound of the year, has been a phenomenon from the night he ran 29.78 to win a maiden at Albion Park, the second fastest maiden win at the track. Since then the son of Sennachie-Kealoah has cemented himself as one of the greats of greyhound racing with a 29.35 Albion Park track record on top of his spectacular Million Dollar Chase victory.

He has also won the G2 Qld Derby, G2 and G3 Gold Ticket, G3 Qld Flame, the Origin Match Race and the QGOLD Sprint. He was second in the G1 Topgun, G1 Gold Bullion, Qld Flame, the Origin Match and a finalist in The Phoenix 2023, representing Racing Queensland.

“We don’t have to remind anyone just how great he has been for us and for greyhound racing,” said Mick today.

No one hit wonder, Jay Is Jay, named in honour of the late Jeff Jones, comes from a litter of eight that have won 106 races and earned $2.32 million.

His crowning glory came in the 2023 Million Dollar Chase back in October at Wentworth Park beating Cumbria Kid and Postman Pat. He had won in 29.45 in his semi-final. Jay Is Jay broke his own father’s long-standing Albion Park track record when he ran 29.35 back in March last year. He ran 29.37 to win the G2 Gold Ticket in January. The Zammits have been approached often with stud inquiries for the dog.

“We will stand him ourselves,” said Michael. “Liz (Brown) is going to work with him through all the necessary stages to have him ready for stud as soon as possible.

“We had his DNA done a while ago, Selena has her studmaster’s license, and from her first look at his semen only today, Liz said it was ‘excellent’.

“He’s a city track record holder and everyone knows they generally make the most successful stud dogs.”

ARTICLE COURTESY OF THE GREYHOUND RECORDER’S DAVID BRASCH