Peter Lagogiane has twice trained the winner of a Million Dollar Chase, but he declares Badger's Beast's victory in the $75,000 Grafton Thunderbolt as the most satisfying of his career.
The former house painter won the inaugural 2018 Million Dollar Chase with Mystic Riot and two years later took home the world's richest greyhound prize with Handsome Prince, along with a swag of major finals with outstanding speedsters like French Martini.
But last week's 350m Grafton final, when Badger's Beast notched his 23rd win in 36 starts, will forever hold a special place in Lagogiane's heart.
"I was overjoyed to win this race for the owner David Grundy, and for Badger's Beast, because I know how tough this dog has done it to get where is now,'' Lagogiane said.
"While Badger's Beast has not won beyond 450m, at Maitland, I have no doubt he is capable of running 520 metres."
"As a young dog he had a post-to-post slip at Wentworth Park and he clocked a flying 24.02, running home in a powerful 11.49, but he pulled up with what has become chronic wrist trouble."
"When that happened the owner and I decided to restrict Badger's Beast to short races on one turn tracks like Grafton so as not to put undue pressure on his wrist."
"That's why Badger's Beast's next assignment will be the heats of the group 3 Ladbrokes Grafton Cup, over 450m, on July 10."
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"It is going to be no easy task though because considering the final is worth $25,000, a big drop from the winner's cheque for the Thunderbolt, I am hearing there are a lot of top class sprinters being set for the race.''
Peter Lagogiane has staged a remarkable comeback considering his kennels were devastrated just over a decade ago when a mystery virus struck his greyhounds along with the dogs of two other leading Sydney trainers.
After having his most successful year in 2013, Lagogiane was left in despair when the virus, believed to have stemmed from salmonella poisoning, ripped through his kennels, resulting in the demise of Magic Panda, potential long-distance star Honey Chicken and boom sprinter Lucks Changed.
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