Lilly To Let Fly In Egg Decider

We speak to Peter Lagogiane in the lead up to Saturday night's Golden Easter Egg Final where the Llandilo trainer lines up race favourite Federal Lilly.

LAST October, Peter Lagogiane – trainer of tonight's Golden Easter Egg favourite Federal Lilly – was on top of the greyhound racing world, victorious with Mystic Riot in the inaugural Million Dollar Chase Final at Wentworth Park.

"Winning the million dollars was life changing but from a prestige perspective, every NSW trainer aspires to win a Golden Easter Egg – it's our pinnacle," declared Lagogiane in the lead up to tonight's group 1 blockbuster at Wentworth Park.

Enjoying an exquisite return to the NSW training ranks following a two-year training stint in Dubai, Lagogiane admits the success he's tasted upon his homecoming has exceeded his wildest expectations.

"We've been lucky enough to win some nice races and get some very good support along the way, the past two years have been very humbling," added Lagogiane.

Tonight, Lagogiane looks to extend that run of success when his pocket-dynamo Federal Lilly steps out from box five in the $250,000 to-the-winner Golden Easter Egg decider, race seven on a champagne card of racing.

Unbeaten in three Sydney appearances since transferring to Lagogiane, the daughter of Dyna Double One booked her final spot with an all-the-way 29.65s semi-final success, a length outside the 29.58s Victorian powerhouse Blue Striker recorded in the final qualifier.

"It sounds strange but I actually wanted box five – the middle gives her a nice straight run to the corner and that's when she races best," he added.

"I've ran the race in my head 100 times and for some reason I keep seeing her getting beat.  Our hope is that she steps cleanly and gets to the front, if she does she'll do us proud."

Blessed with dazzling early pace, Federal Lilly looms as the best of the local hopes of ending Victoria's nine-year dominance on NSW's flagship event, Victoria well represented by Black Opium (box 1), Blue Striker (box 7) and Miss Splendamiro (box 8).

"We're up against some very good trainers and some very good dogs but I've learnt over the years that you can only worry about what you can control and that's making sure our girl is fit, healthy and ready to go," added Lagogiane.

"She's had a great week and I can't fault her – it's all up to her now."

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