Following the Victorian qualifiers – that were worthy of Group 1 status in their own right – five Victorians are set to contest the National Sprint and Distance Championships.

Without A Trace kicked off the Victorian Nationals night at The Meadows with a brave, come-from-behind win in the Distance Final over 730 metres.

“She is able to do it from the front and come from behind – it was a gutsy win,” trainer Peter Presutto said.

“I was so excited to see her win like that. Makes you feel good to have a dog like her in your kennels.”

Just 18 starts into her career, Without A Trace is already carrying high expectations – but she won’t be travelling alone. Seasoned campaigner Ethanol Water also secured a ticket to Queensland as one of the GCA (Greyhound Clubs Australia) Wildcards, being the country’s top ranked stayer.

Without  A Trace (7) and Ethanol Water (5) in the Victorian qualifier. 

In the Sprint ranks, Mepunga Reward produced a dazzling performance in Thursday night’s Victorian National Sprint Final at The Meadows, defeating one of the hottest fields assembled in recent times. He stopped the clock in a best-of-the-night 29.68 seconds over the 525 metres.

Mepunga Reward is no stranger to Queensland’s state-of-the-art The Q facility – in four starts there, he boasts three wins and a second. He will be joined in Queensland by Wildcards Flying Zulu and Tim Zoo.

Despite being unplaced in the final, the country’s top ranked sprinter Flying Zulu will progress to the National final as a Wildcard. As will kennelmate Tim Zoo, who was promoted as the second of the Wildcards after the second ranked sprinter Sooty Keeping won in New South Wales, making her Wildcard status obsolete.

Victorian qualifiers – Mepunga Reward (2), Tim Zoo (6) and Flying Zulu (7).

The Group 1 National Sprint and Distance Championships will be run at The Q on Saturday August 30.