Speed the key to Canya Dominate’s success

By Josh Spasaro

Gerard Agius will be hoping Canya Dominate can showcase his typically blistering back-straight speed in the Rockhampton Grand Prix Final on Wednesday night.

If he does, the two-year-old will be tough to catch in the 510 metre feature worth $11,880.

Canya Dominate got on the outside of his opponents from the four lane in last Wednesday night’s heat, before opening a four-length lead on the back straight.

He maintained that gap when he crossed the line in 30.01 seconds and it is a template Agius would love to see repeated from box six in the decider.

Agius added Farmor Casual (box seven) and Play Dirty (box eight) on his chaser’s outside – for Steven Scott and Dallas Beckett, respectively – would offer stern opposition.

“He (Canya Dominate) has drawn well,” Agius said.

“He’s out wide where he needs to be. It depends if the dog in the seven gets across in front of him and if he doesn’t get chopped off, he’ll be right.

“He’ll run a fair race. If he can stay with the eight, it’ll be a good race. He’s got a very good back straight. He can power on there. That’s where he wins his races.

“That’s where he takes advantage. It’s a hard race. What can I say? Hopefully we’ll be in front at the end.”

Agius said Canya Dominate also burned his competition on the outside from box seven in the Rockhampton Wildcard Final over 510 metres on April 2.

Play Dirty – along with Out The Bottle for Darren Taylor and Edgewood for Christine Pollard – lined up in that $24,000 feature and they are also expected to put up good challenges in Wednesday night’s event.

“He ran the same race he ran in the Wildcard Final. It was nearly the exact same race (Canya Dominate’s Grand Prix heat),” Agius said.

“It was just a pity he couldn’t do that in the Rocky Cup (finishing sixth on April 16).”

Canya Dominate has nine wins from 27 starts for $39,730 in career prizemoney.

He is by Group 1-winner Shima Shine and out of Joyful, who prevailed on six occasions from 27 starts.

Agius added that Canya Dominate was arguably the most talented greyhound he has trained.

“He comes from a very good line. His brother Canya Striker is in South Australia,” Agius said.

“You look at his form and he’s a really good 600 metre dog. I don’t think my dog can run any further than 520 metres. 

“That’s about where he is. He comes from a very good line in Shima Shine and Joyful. That’s a good litter.

“I haven’t trained too many dogs, but he’s probably the best dog I’ve got in the kennel.

“Canya Dominate and Canya Atomic are doing really well for me at the moment.”

Meanwhile, Agius – currently based at Marian outside of Mackay – revealed he would soon be ready to set up his boutique operation at Lockyer Waters, in the Lockyer Valley region, about 70kms west of The Q greyhound facility.

He said he was excited about the impending move and the opportunities ahead in South East Queensland.

“I’m in the process of moving to Lockyer Waters in the next four weeks. I’m selling up the kennels as we speak,” he said.

“I can’t wait to get to The Q and have a bit of fun. I’ll only have a 10-dog kennel and be an owner and trainer.

“I think Queensland is that far in front of every other state at the moment, in terms of their racing facilities.

“With The Q, they’re miles in front. And, the prizemoney is good. They’ve got some good races coming up in the carnival.”