From a house painter in Sydney’s western suburbs, to private trainer for the Crown Prince of Dubai.
Add to that, winning the Million Dollar Chase, the world’s richest greyhound race, not once, but twice, in its brief four-year existence.
That’s the incredible rags – or in this case, brushes – to riches ride undertaken by Peter Lagogiane, trainer of NSW’s Group 1 Sportsbet Topgun (525m) raider French Martini.
After drawing Box 1 for Saturday night’s invitational showpiece, French Martini ($2.80) is challenging Victorian superstar Wow She’s Fast ($2.60) for Topgun favouritism in Sportsbet’s market.
“I would describe our journey as an absolute fairy tale,” said Lagogiane.
“From the slums of Redfern to the heights of Dubai!
“When I decided to give up painting to train dogs, most of my friends told me I was an idiot. They said I was a dreamer, and I lost a few buddies along the way.
“Even my Mum said there was no light at the end of the tunnel in greyhound racing.”
In 2014, Lagogiane, 51, was plucked from relative obscurity to become private trainer for Sheikh Hamdan, son of Sheikh Mohammed, founder of the Godolphin thoroughbred racing empire.
After uprooting wife Jodie and son Isaak, with second child Bailey arriving in Dubai, for the opportunity of a racing lifetime, Lagogiane trained greyhounds and salukis with great success, while mixing with the rich and famous.
WATCH: NSW star FRENCH MARTINI (B7) won the G2 Black Top at The Gardens on October 7, defeating fellow Topgun contender ZIPPING KYRGIOS (B4) in a Best Of Night 29.40sec.
With no betting or prizemoney, sheikhs and sultans raced each other for bragging rights, prestige cars and even a sword, awarded to the winner of the United Arab Emirates’ version of the Topgun, which Lagogiane adds, he won twice.
However, two years into a life-changing five-year contract, Lagogiane returned to Australia when his father fell ill.
“I left behind $1 million a year to come back to Dad, when he was diagnosed with cancer,” he explained.
“But the Arabs taught me two things; they taught me patience and that if you want to receive, you must give first.
“I came back to Dad, so that his grandkids could spend time with him, and God has repaid us. I know it sounds corny, but that’s what I believe.”
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Fame and fortune followed Lagogiane when he returned to Sydney, incredibly winning the Million Dollar Chase twice; the inaugural running with Mystic Riot in 2018, followed by Handsome Prince in 2020.
With multiple celebrations in the richest race on the planet, Lagogiane is now targeting the world’s most lucrative carnival, the aptly named $4.1 million Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival, with French Martini.
Winner of 11 from 19, French Martini won her last two starts in heat and final of the G2 Black Top at The Gardens in brilliant fashion.
The daughter of 2017 Melbourne Cup winner and Topgun runner-up Aston Dee Bee broke the 515m track record when winning her heat in 28.96sec, becoming the first sprinter to break 29 seconds at the Newcastle circuit.
She then won the final in 29.40sec, defeating another Topgun invitee in Zipping Kyrgios to claim her second Group trophy, having won the G3 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park in May.
French Martini’s Topgun prospects were boosted when she trialled brilliantly at The Meadows, clocking 29.72sec, and then soared when she was allocated Box 1 in Monday night’s draw.
“It’s a fantastic draw. It looks like an ideal draw on paper,” Lagogiane said.
“I’m trying to play it down, but of course you want to draw Box 1 in these races.
“The two (Zippy Tesla) and three (McInerney) get off the fence, and the other speed is out in seven (Orchestrate) and eight (Good Odds Cash).
“But she’s still got to do everything right against the elite of Australian greyhound racing. What an honour to be selected in the top eight greyhounds in the country!
“We did it with Beast Unleashed in the Launching Pad (2018) and to go down there and do it again in a race like the Topgun would be very special.
“When we won the first Million Dollar Chase with Mystic Riot, (race caller) Tim Newbold said, ‘A dream, now a reality’. Since I was a kid, this was my dream and now I’m living it!”
