Ava Wine opens the floodgates for interstate arrivals

By Isaac Murphy

The arrival of champion New South Wales trainer Peter Lagogiane’s Ava Wine in Brisbane has set up a blockbuster clash with Selena Zammit’s Sequana in Thursday night’s Free For All over the middle-distance at Albion Park.

That head-to-head is just the appetiser, with the pair to push on to the heats of the Listed Carnival Chase next week.

Lagogiane engaged the services of Darren Russell, who has taken the reins with the prospect over the next few weeks, as Ava Wine tries to further establish himself as one of the country’s best middle-distance dogs.

“Even though he hasn’t had a whole lot of experience (at 600 metres) I think that’s his natural racing distance, so we’ve elected to stick with that and got him up to Darren Russell’s place to give him a look at the track this week before the Listed Carnival Chase heats,” Lagogiane said.

“We took a gamble with him last start up over the 700 at Wentworth Park and while he tailed off late, his sections to the 600 metres were lightning, so we learnt a lesson there and he’s had a good three-week break before arriving in Brisbane on Monday.

“When I saw the race (Garrard’s Listed Carnival Chase) I instantly thought that’s something this dog needs to be a part of, he’s just making his way against the best dogs over the middle-distance and the prizemoney in Queensland at the moment is just outstanding.”

Frist thing’s first, Lagogiane is looking for some good signs from his chaser this week as he takes on Sequana at a distance she’s reigned supreme.

“It’s the perfect test for us, what Sequana has done up there at Albion Park is folklore and we’ll have to beat her on her home track, but we won’t be backing down,” he said.

“From the one - with not much speed in the two and a vacant in the three - I’ll be looking for him to capitalise on that and find the front and really make her work from box eight.

“The small field probably means she gets the chance to be a bit closer in the run, but you’ve got to worry about your own and he’s ready to go.”

Well versed in travelling dogs from his Sydney base, Lagogiane leaves no stone unturned once he picks his target.

“It’s a bit of a non-negotiable with me when you’re travelling for a race you do your due diligence and get up there nice and early, I’ve never been one for arriving on the day,” he said.

“He’ll get the advantage of a hit out in Free For All company this week where I think he’ll go pretty close to winning and that should have him topped up for next week’s heats.

“I’m pretty confident he’ll take to the track, everywhere I’ve taken him in the past he’s been brilliant first up from Nowra to The Meadows - with a good preparation it shouldn’t be any different.”

Lagogiane praised the Queensland greyhound racing industry for providing a race like the Listed Carnival Chase, giving dogs like Ava Wine a chance to shine.

“What Queensland has put together on a prizemoney front is just outstanding; I guess it’s the old saying if you build it, they’ll come and when you see a $27,250 Listed race over a suitable distance, that’s a pretty attractive prospect,” he said.

“It’s a unique distance the 600, it can sometimes be hard to find races with the backing of sprint and staying events, but we’ve been lucky here at home with the Super Series, Non-Graded races at Nowra for $10,000 and $5000 middle-distance racing across the board - it’s good to see multiple states getting onboard.

“We’ve had to go searching for races and I think that’s going to play to his advantage, wherever he shows up, he knows he’s there with a job to do.”

Ava Wine is likely to open the floodgates for visitors over the next few months, and Lagagione is set to strengthen his hand - headed by a Million Dollar Chase winner.

“I’m not sure on exact numbers over the Winter Carnival, but I’ll be up in Brisbane with multiple runners; three that I can probably lock in are Vicki’s Queen, Modern Talking and of course Handsome Prince,” he said.

“Vicki’s Queen has been outstanding at Wentworth Park over her career, but I think it’s time for the next level and she’s headed to Sandown for the Sapphire in a fortnight and after that will be straight up to Queensland.

“I’ve got Handsome Prince’s preparation zeroed in on the Group 1 Brisbane Cup it’s all about that race, I know he’s made his name winning the Million Dollar Chase, but I want to show Australia one hot day isn’t a summer - he’s a freak capable of plenty more.”

Lagogiane has made plenty of mates over his remarkable training career and will be calling on some more of Queensland’s leading trainers in the coming months.

“I’m lucky enough to have a lot of good friends up in Queensland; Jeff and Jane Crawford have always been good to me and Tony Apap and myself went to Dubai together and always talked about helping each other out,” he said.

“I’m hoping to have four or five dogs up at different stages over the Winter Carnival and will need to lean on blokes like Tony to hopefully help me out and take a couple on.

“I went to Darren (Russell) with Ava Wine simply because I thought it was the right fit, he knows how to have a dog right for a big final and doesn’t have a huge kennel where the dog will get plenty of attention - he’s in good hands.”