Canya Aurora’s talent shining in Townsville

By Josh Spasaro

Gerard Agius has enjoyed an excellent past 12 months since he moved to Lockyer Waters from Mackay and he could have a Group 2 Townsville Cup qualifier this week.

Canya Aurora will line up for him from box four in the second heat on Friday night.

The two-year-old white and black bitch has had a consistent career so far, winning 13 of her 25 starts.

Agius is a sugarcane farmer who comes from a strong greyhound racing family. His late father Andrew won the Townsville Cup back in 1983 when the event was run over 643 metres with a chaser named Tat Legend.

If the 60-year-old wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and win next Friday night’s 498 metre Final, he will need his Jackslittlething and Bali Sunset chaser to start well.

“She’s a good little bitch. Chances wise, if she jumps to the front, she’ll go OK,” he said.

“But, she won’t be able to come from behind. She’s got to ping the lids and lead to be any chance.

“Box four over 498 metres in Townsville is not an easy task. But, she’s got the ability to get out of the box pretty good. I think she’ll go OK.

“It’ll all depend on the start. She’s no superstar, but she goes OK.”

Agius will also have Canya Detonator and Canya Dynamite line up in the respective first and fourth Townsville Cup heats on Friday night.

“Canya Dynamite is in box seven. Just have a look at his box draws for his past 20 or so starts – he hasn’t drawn anywhere inside four,” he said.

“His chances out there are very limited and he’ll need a lot of luck.

“And, the dog in the eight is very well boxed. He’s only a young dog coming back from a few injuries.

“He’s got a very big motor, but it all depends on how he goes over the first 50 metres.”

Agius has been delighted with the past 12 months at his new training base of Lockyer Waters.

“It’s gone really good. We’ve been here for just over 12 months. We’ve turned over, I think, 51 winners for the year so far,” he said.

“We only had nine dogs running up until Tuesday night. Now we’ve got 12 dogs running.

“I’m still a sugarcane farmer. It was hard to move from Mackay, but it’s not hard when you go down and win a few races. It’s quite easy, actually.

“I was in Mackay for 59 years. This was just another chapter in my life. I always wanted to do it.”

Agius is also buoyant about Mondo Cortez’s chances from box two in the second Stayers Challenge heat over 643 metres at Townsville on Friday night.

“Mondo Cortez has raced in Townsville in the past. He started his racing career in Rockhampton and Townsville and I always looked for a 643 metre race, but I could never get one,” he said.

“And, this will be his first 643 metre race. He’s boxed right in a small field. He should go OK.

“I don’t know what’s around him and I haven’t had a look, but the dog can hold his own.”

Agius will take winning momentum into Friday night’s Townsville Cup heats after two convincing victories by debutants on Tuesday night – Canya Eclipse and Canya Break Even.

They are 21-month-old litter siblings by Bernardo and out of Sandave Sky. Agius purchased them from the Canya Greyhound Complex in New South Wales.

In stunning fashion, Canya Break Even equalled the track record over 380 metres, crossing the line in 21.34 seconds.

“I trialled him there last week and he ran 21.56 seconds. He went back this week and ran 21.34 seconds,” Agius said.

“It’s always exciting when you get good young dogs. He’s only had one start and we’ve got a long way to go.

“Fingers crossed, he holds together and we can have a bit of luck go our way. We’ll just take it week by week.

“If he handles this OK, he’ll be in the Dave Brett Memorial back in Brisbane in a few weeks.

“And, the bitch Canya Eclipse isn’t far behind him. She’s a good little bitch and she’ll probably run on a bit further.

“She’s looking for more ground, I’d say.”

Agius will also be cheering on Canya Hellfire from box one in the fifth Townsville Cup heat on Friday night.

“Me and my brother own him. We handed him over to Steven Scott for this race a few months ago,” he said.

“For the first time in a long time he’s been drawn exactly where he needs to be. With some luck he might go OK, too.”