Q move on the agenda ahead of 'Rocky' Cup

By Jordan Gerrans

Mackay mentor Gerard Agius believes Canya Dominate will find the going tough in Wednesday’s Group 2 Rockhampton Cup Final against a classy bunch of southern chasers.

In his first foray into elite-level racing after decades away from the industry, Agius is realistic that his black dog will need to spring a surprise to upset the likes of track specialist Play Dirty and Backcreek Benny from the leading Selena Zammit kennel.

But, Agius’ chances of competing against the best kennels in the Sunshine State will not be short-lived.

Currently based at Marian in Central Queensland, the long-time greyhound enthusiast is in the process of relocating to South East Queensland to race at the recently-opened The Q on a consistent basis.

The 58-year-old will be based at Lockyer Waters with his growing kennel.

Agius has only been back around the greyhounds regularly for less than a year and will have half a dozen starters across Wednesday’s Rockhampton Cup program.

“The plan is to go into semi-retirement and train a few dogs as a hobby,” Agius said.

“It is 10 acres and was previously a horse place, which will get turned into a greyhound place with 10 kennels. It will have a straight track and it is all happening pretty soon.

"It is something I have always wanted to do. It's a great property, plenty of room for a 300 metre straight and a kennel block to be built.

"Now that The Q has turned up, it’s time to head south."

The Agius kennel have been prominent in decades gone by in Central and North Queensland.

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

Now in his 90s, 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.

Canya Dominate will fly the flag for the locals in the $75,000-to-the-winner Cup on Wednesday evening alongside Dallas Beckett's Play Dirty.

The son of Shima Shine won through to the Cup decider through the popular Wildcard concept which gives a locally-prepared chaser direct entry into the showpiece event before the powerful southern kennels lob for the heats.

From the seven alley, Canya Dominate put in a career-best performance around the Callaghan Park surface, scoring in a personal best time of 29.93 seconds.

He started as an $23 chance on that occasion earlier this month.

It is likely to be a similar scenario on Wednesday night as Agius’ hopeful runs with a big price handed to him by bookmakers.

Agius is not fussed about the price on offer for his chaser -  he is just smiling to be a part of the ‘big dance’ in CQ and says it would be ‘unreal’ to claim victory.

“He is in the race and he needs to get a good run to be a chance,” Agius said.

“He needs to get around that first corner. He is a bit slow out of the boxes but he needs to get around that first corner well to be in the race.

“I am just happy to be in the race, it is a huge thrill. It is very exciting to be in a Group race.”

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

Magri prepared Canya Dominate before he was transferred north late last year.

“It was awesome, very good,” Agius said of winning the Wildcard decider.

“I was very happy.

“When he was in the back straight around the corner, I knew he had a chance then.

“It was good. The dog is just starting to find his legs.

“He had a bit of a down period when I first got him from New South Wales and took a while to acclimatize and settle in. He is going ok now.”

Canya Atomic will also represent the Agius team in the Consolation race for the Cup on Wednesday evening with the trainer noting Atomic has genuine claims to score in the 510 metre event.