Agius follows his passion from Mackay cane fields to The Q

By Pat McLeod

Career cane farmer Gerard Agius has followed his passion, which has led him to The Q.

It may be a long way from the green fields of Marian, near Mackay, but he could not be happier.

“I reached 59 and decided to enjoy what I'm doing and do what I want to do before it is too late,” Agius says.

“My father (former top trainer Andrew Agius) had greyhounds and I grew up with dogs, from when I was 11 until I was 25 years old.

“I loved them and although I wasn’t involved with them for a long time, I never lost that passion for them. I knew that one day I would be back involved with greyhounds. That happened about three years ago when I got one and the rest is history.”

That brief ‘history’ has seen Agius make a successful return to the sport, but that taste only whetted his appetite for more.

“In Mackay I had to drive to Townsville or Rockhampton to race and although I was having good success, I looked at the big picture and all roads led to The Q," Agius said. 

“I thought that if I was going to go anywhere with greyhounds I may as well come down here. I didn't want it to be a case of thinking back and wondering ‘what could have been’.”

Agius bought 10 acres at Lockyer Waters, near Churchable, and moved down with partner Kelly James in late June.

They have since added a kennel block and a few wins.

“I am having a little bit of success so far and hope I can mix it with the trainers down here,” Agius said.

“We have just the five race dogs here at the moment.

“I didn't come down here with dreams of being the most successful greyhound trainer in the region. I just came here to have a bit of fun with a handful of dogs.

“I really love doing what I am doing, but I am a hobby trainer. I still have the farm back at Mackay and have someone looking after it.

“If things don’t work out here then I can go back to the farm or maybe retire up there and go fishing. If I can get a win here or there, then I will be happy.”

Given his ‘stats’ so far, Agius is a ‘good thing’ to be very competitive in the far bigger and deeper greyhound pond.

With just seven starters so far, he has registered three wins and two placings.

Agius’ kennel star is the well-performed Canya Dominate.

However, loving the change as much as his trainer is youngster Canya Atomic, one of three runners he has in Thursday night’s program at the Q1 Lakeside track.

Since coming south the Fernando Bale and Cayenne Model chaser has had three starts at the Q1 for two wins and a third.

“He really likes that Q1 track,” said Agius of Canya Atomic.

“He is still very young, but is doing a lot of things right and has got a lot of good traits.

“He is very calm and mature for his age and is a very social, happy dog. Race-wise, he has a big heart and chases hard.

“He won a Young Guns in Rockhampton, came second in the Country Cup in Townsville and was first reserve for the Rocky Cup.

“I don’t think he’s a champion, but he is a very good bread and butter dog, with a big upside still, hopefully.”

Agius said Canya Atomic will need to ‘do everything right’ on Thursday night when he jumps from box four in race 10 over 457 metres.

“I have no doubt he will be competitive, but there are some very good dogs in this race,” Agius said.

“He will need a lot of luck to be in front at the end.”

Agius also has Mondo Cortez in race five and Canya Nuclear in race 11.