NSW Holds Origin Sprint Aces

IT'S quite appropriate that New South Wales State of Origin representatives Mystic Riot and Jamella Jet have drawn alongside each other in boxes three and four for Thursday night's TAB Origin Sprint (520m) at Albion Park.

Trained a hop, skip and a jump away from each other, Mystic Riot by Peter Lagogiane at Llandilo, and Jamella Jet by Andrew and Adam Crouch at South Windsor, the talented duo aren't strangers on the track by any stretch either, finishing first and second in last October's Million Dollar Chase Final at Wentworth Park.

On that occasion it was Mystic Riot that defeated Jamella Jet in an epic finish to the world's richest greyhound event, and at Albion Park this Thursday night the two will reunite acquaintances on the track, but not before in all likelihood being traveling companions for the 12-hour journey to sunny Brisbane.

"As it stands, I'll probably drive up with Crouchy (Adam Crouch) on Tuesday afternoon and stay with him at Jeff and Jane Crawfords," said Mystic Riot's trainer Peter Lagogiane.

While Jamella Jet capped off his State of Origin preparations with a slick 29.84 Albion Park trial last Thursday, Mystic Riot's lead-up hasn't been anywhere near as straight forward.

"It hasn't been a perfect preparation but at her last trial at Richmond she went the best of the day when nothing was running time so she's right to go for Thursday," said Lagogiane.

A week earlier, Lagogiane opted to send the Million Dollar Chase winner to Queensland by plane for a quick trial at Albion Park in preparation for her Origin clash, only to return home under the weather, not handling the experience away at all.

"She didn't get off her bed for two days when she got home," said Lagogiane.

"Before she flew up to Brisbane I trialled her at Richmond and she went 22.30 with a 14.14 run home, I rang the owners and said we had her back 100% – I was delighted," said Lagogiane.

"She's not a bitch that likes being out of her comfort zone and she didn't handle the flight and trip away at all. She lost half a kilo both going there and coming back, she was very flat when she got home last week but touch wood she's brightened back up the past few days."

With Mystic Riot and Jamella Jet joined by fellow Western Sydney galloper Good Odds Harada, trained by Frank Hurst, and Jason Mackay's Zipping Bailey, a brilliant trial performer in Brisbane on Sunday, New South Wales appear to hold all the firepower for Thursday night's $40,000 to-the-winner sprint event.

"It's a privilege to represent New South Wales, I'm looking forward to being a part of it all," said Lagogiane.

"While my bitch hasn't had the perfect preparation she was absolutely flying before the trip away and if she handles the track and leads I still think she can win.

"She's seen the track and is proven in this class but the three other NSW representatives will be very hard to beat from their draws. As long as one of us win, that's the main thing!"