Incapacitated’s trainer Justin King is adopting a "little fish are sweet'' approach in hoping his Richmond Derby winner is chosen to contest the June 17 Origin Match race at Albion Park in preference to the richer Origin Sprint on the same date.
This Friday greyhound racing's State of Origin "teams'' will be selected for the 520m Sprint and 710m Distance, worth $60,000 apiece, along with the $25,000 to the winner Origin Match race over 520m.
"Despite the difference in prizemoney I would rather see Incapacitated go into a match race than risk drawing badly in a full field,'' King said.
"Obviously the 'two out' conditions of the $25,000 race are far more suitable for a dog like Incapacitated, especially as he won the match race series (Christmas Gift) at Wentworth Park against some outstanding greyhounds.
"Incapacitated trialled 30.04s at Albion Park last Thursday and his run was super considering it had been raining all day in Brisbane.''
Peter Lagogiane, trainer of 2020 TAB Million Dollar Chase winner Handsome Prince, is hoping last year's big race champ is included in the $60,000 Origin 520m event.
"I've been in Queensland with him for a fortnight and last Thursday night Handsome Prince trialled 30.07 over 520m at Albion Park,'' Lagogiane said.
"Incapacitated went a bit quicker but his time to the back straight was 11.66 while Handsome Prince recorded a flying 11.44.
"A week earlier I hand-slipped Handsome Prince in a post-to-post hit-out at Albion Park and he clocked 24.07.
"Leading Brisbane trainer Tony Brett knows Albion Park backwards and told me that time was virtually unheard of, so the dog is going great.''
Pay Call, like Handsome Prince raced by big spending owner Shakeel Latimer and trained by Lagogiane, edged out kennelmate Vicki's Queen in the group 3 Evans & Son Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park on May 8 and is also in rare form in Brisbane.
She followed a slick 29.85 win there with another victory, this time in 29.97, last Thursday night.
Midnight Flash scored her first Wentworth Park 520m win on Saturday night in a nippy 30.12 but will still be retired when she comes in season.
Trainer Jack Smith announced that plan before Midnight Flash qualified for the Brother Fox Cup at Dubbo last month and says nothing has changed.
"She has not long come off a seasonal spell so I have a full racing preparation ahead with her, but when she comes in next Midnight Flash is being mated with Feral Franky,'' Smith said.
Although Jungle Deuce's 30.23 was slowest of last Thursday's Flying Amy Classic heat times at Albion Park, Smith was thrilled with that greyhound's performance.
"To overcome a moderate start and charge home from where he was mid-race, was an unbelievable performance,'' Smith said.
"The weather was horrendous and I must admit I was surprised the meeting went ahead, but like he has done before, Jungle Deuce showed that tremendous will to win.
"Having box one in Thursday night's final gives him a terrific chance.''
