Agius Out To Spring Rockhampton Cup Upset

GERARD Agius has been training for just six months but has Canya Dominate into Wednesday's Group 2 Rockhampton Cup and is now on the verge of shifting south to take on greyhound training full time.

Canya Dominate (Shima Shine-Joyful) won his way into the Cup decider on Wednesday night after winning the Wildcard event two weeks ago.

He has come up with box four in the final and while Gerard rates him a chance to be running on strongly at the finish, he rates first reserve Canya Atomic a genuine strong chance if he gets a start in the final.

FIELDS AND FORM FOR ROCKHAMPTON ON WEDNESDAY

"What a fabulous field for the final," Agius said.

"I'm just happy to be there with the likes of Mick Zammit, Tom Tzouvelis, Travis Elson.

"He's in the race and I'm happy to be there."

But, Gerard has just finalised the purchase of a 10-acre property in south-east Queensland at Lockyer Waters and will move there within the next couple of months.

"I'll be in semi-retirement and having fun training greyhounds," he said.

"It is something I have always wanted to do."

Gerard's dad, Andrew, now in his 90s, was a legend of greyhound training out of his Mackay base back in the mid 1970s with a star like Tat Legend.

"It's a great property, plenty of room for a 300 metre straight, and a kennel block to be built," said Gerard.

"Now that The Q has turned up, its time to head south."

Of Canya Dominate's chances, he said the dog took some time to settle into his kennel back at Christmas time.

"I bought him as a pup and Jason Magri won a few with him for me in Sydney," said Gerard.

"But he hurt himself and after a good break he came up here. It took him some time to settle. He's just finding his feet now."

Gerard rates Backcreek Benny the one to beat in the Cup final.