By Brennan Ryan.

With the state finals decided across the country, the stage is set for Sandown Park in Victoria to host the Group 1 National Sprint Championship (515m) and Group 1 National Distance Championship (715m) on Saturday, August 29.

Australia’s leading sprinters and stayers booked their tickets to Sandown on Thursday night, with the box draws for the two $100,000-to-the-winner finals to be conducted on Friday, August 21.

New South Wales superstar Jungle Johnny stamped himself as one of the headline acts for the National Sprint Championship (515m) with another electrifying performance.

Fresh from smashing the Wentworth Park track record, the Mark Gatt-trained speedster returned to the famous Harbour City circuit to claim the New South Wales Sprint Championship (520m) in dazzling fashion.

The son of Jungle Deuce and Springvale Carla made it four straight victories since returning from an injury layoff, charging away from box eight to score by nine-and-a-half lengths in 29.10.

New South Wales will be represented in the National Distance Championship by Boom Bam Ranger, with the Charmaine Roberts-trained stayer producing a strong performance to claim the 720m state final.

In Victoria, Storm Hustler ensured the host state will have a major hand in the Sprint Championship after producing a blistering performance to deny favourite Wrongly Accused in the Victorian Sprint Championship (515m).

Storm Hustler wins the Victorian National Distance Final at Sandown Park from box one. 

Jeff Britton will fly the Victorian flag in the National Distance Championship with Mepunga Lara, who launched a late charge to reel in the leaders and secure victory in the Victorian Distance Championship (715m).

History will be on the line for Western Australian star Miss Envy when she heads to Sandown attempting to join the legendary Dashing Corsair as a winner of both the National Sprint and National Distance Championships.

Miss Envy aims to make history in the National Championships two years after winning the Group 1 National Sprint Championship at Angle Park, the Krystal Shinners-trained star secured her return to the Nationals stage by taking out the WA Distance Championship (715m) at Cannington.

The WA Sprint Championship (520m) went the way of Iconic Guess, with the Christine Robartson-trained sprinter making full use of the rails draw to defeat Iconic Jet and earn a place in the Sandown decider.

Tasmania produced one of the stories of the night when If Ever turned a last-minute call-up into a ticket to the National Sprint Championship.

Trainer Mick Stringer received the call following the scratching of Promises Made, allowing first reserve If Ever to take his place from box two before racing his way into the Group 1 final with a stunning career-best 29.21 performance in the Tasmanian Sprint Championship (515m) at Launceston.

The Apple Isle will now chase its first National Sprint Championship in more than four decades, dating back to legendary Tasmanian sprinter Busy Vintage.

Tasmania has more recent history in the staying championship, with Gary Fahey’s Raider’s Guide capturing the Group 1 National Distance Championship (730m) at Angle Park two years ago.

This year the state’s Distance hopes rest with Don’t Tell Tommy, trained by Nicole Howard, who powered home in the closing stages to claim the Tasmanian Distance Championship (599m) at Hobart last Monday night.

South Australia will head to Sandown with Bandit Darryl after the Lauren Harris trained stayer proved too strong in the SA Distance Championship (730m), while Nicole Price’s Utter Madness secured the SA Sprint Championship (530m).

At The Q in Queensland, emerging stayer Beautiful Child continued an impressive rise through the staying ranks by winning the Queensland Distance Championship (710m), earning a first appearance at Group 1 level.

Jedda Cutlack will carry Queensland’s Sprint hopes after Zipping Lee claimed the Queensland Sprint Championship (520m) and secured his passage to Sandown.

Completing the fields are the four Wildcard qualifiers, with Off The Chart and Winsome Jet earning their places in the National Sprint Championship, while Magpie Hector and Without A Trace secured the two Wildcards for the National Distance Championship.

With the state battles now won and the contenders locked in, all roads lead to Sandown Park for Australian greyhound racing’s coveted Group 1 Nationals double on August 29.