Bate, who also prepares 12 runners in the Victorian heats of the National Sprint Championship, won all three Victorian distance heats.

Amity Bale, a last-start winner of the group 2 AWM Distance Championship at The Meadows, showed characteristic early speed from the boxes to lead clearly and was never threatened, racing to an 8-length win the first heat in a slick 41.99.

The run was the equal eighth fastest at Sandown Park, and Amity Bale is likely to start a short favourite in next week's final.

In the second heat, reigning National Distance champion Mantra Lad began only fairly from box 1 but soon pushed up under Kulu Warrior ($5.60) to take the lead entering the straight the first time.

But he couldn't shake off the underrated Beware, who won by a head in 42.38.

Despite the loss, trainer Graeme Jose remained upbeat about his charge's title defence.

"He's only had the one 600m [trial since his last run on July 2] so I thought there was a chance he'd get run down.

Regardless of where he finishes in next week's state final, Mantra Lad is assured a berth in his seventh group 1 final courtesy of his top rating in the Australian Greyhound Racing Association rankings.

Bate completed the clean sweep when Jarvis Bale proved too good in the final heat.

The Victorian final of the $72,500 group 1 Schweppes National Distance Championship will be run at Sandown Park on Thursday. The national final will be run at Cannington, Perth, on Saturday, September 5.