Famous name back in northern training ranks

By Jordan Gerrans

The Agius kennel have been prominent in decades gone by in Central and North Queensland and keen dog man Gerard is building the team back up again.

Gerard is the son of former trainer Andrew who had a strong team of chasers through the 1970s, 80s and beyond.

Andrew claimed the feature Townsville Cup back in 1983 when the event was run over 643 metres with a chaser named Tat Legend.

The kennel also prepared Mandarana Flyer who greyhound historian Paul Dolan once described as one of the best dogs that raced in Mackay in the city’s first few years of racing.

Mandarana Flyer won 13 consecutive races at the Mackay track and the son of Temlee won 28 races all up and was unplaced only four times in his career of 56 starts.

Gerard is making his own name in the caper these days and will have two starters in Tuesday’s Townsville Young Guns decider following the heats.

Mondo Cortez claimed the third and final heat for Gerard in 28.95 seconds while kennelmate Canya Dominate ran into third in the opening heat which was enough to land in the Final.

Gerard only took out his own licence in late October of last year but is thrilled with the results he has produced so far.

“I love it, I wanted to start again and I am winning a few races, so I am having a good time,” the owner and trainer said.

“The dogs are going good and handle the travel up to Townsville well. I enjoy what I am doing, I am loving it as a hobby.

“It has always been in the blood, we have had dogs all our life since we were kids. I never had an opportunity to get back into it properly until now.”

Gerard has taken half a dozen chasers to the track since late October and has collected 15 winners.

The 59-year-old says his father is getting a kick out of seeing the Agius surname back in the form guide in Central and North Queensland.

Andrew is in his early 90s these days and has battled ill health.

“He is really enjoying watching the races, it has really spurred him up,” Gerard said.

Gerard owned a few dogs with NSW trainer Jason Magri in recent years before taking out his own licence.

Magri bred the litter that produced Mondo Cortez who has won three times and been placed on three more occasions from 12 attempts since shifting north. 

Mondo Cortez was not able to lead in the early exchanges from the inside draw in Tuesday’s heat but he stuck to the rails and waited for the run to open before he kicked clear in the home straight.

The two-year-old chaser scored by a length over 498 metres.

“The dog has found his feet now,” Gerard said of Mondo Cortez.

“He has had a few races where the track has not suited him and he had a bit of time off. The box suited him on Tuesday night and he got the run.  

“I know he can gallop, he got the clear run and that is all he needs that dog. He just needed some open space.”

He started from the red in the heat and that is the same position Mondo Cortez will jump from in Tuesday’s decider while kennelmate Canya Dominate will commence from the seven.

Central Queensland dogs have been prominent at the Townsville Showgrounds track in recent weeks and Gerard believes the visiting contingent will be hard to hold out come Tuesday evening.

Gerard trains out of Marian in Mackay.

“He has drawn the right box for Tuesday night, that will suit him,” he said of Mondo Cortez’s chances in the decider.

“Hopefully he can get a rails run and hopefully he can do what he did on Tuesday.

“There are some very good dogs in this race, the Steven Scott, Heath Ardle and Ken Boody dogs are very good – they are his big dangers and very good trainers.

“They all know how to win big races. My other dog in the seven, he goes ok, as well. Canya Dominate can run a good race also.”

When Gerard was building up his own kennel, he worked closely with former leading city trainer Scott who has relocated to Sarina in CQ.

Gerard described Scott as a mentor and close mate as he pre-trained his runners who will compete in the Young Guns decider on Tuesday.