Less than two months ago Zipping Caleb won the Zoom Top Maiden final at Goulburn and on Saturday night he completed a remarkable rise to the big time by posting fastest time of the eight city qualifiers for the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase.
Trained by John Finn and having only his 10th race, Zipping Caleb secured a dream rails’ run at the first turn when pacemaker Country Roy veered off the track, bolting away to win by seven lengths in 29.56.
Quantifiable, a litter sister to Million Dollar Chase semi-finalist Mortified, recorded Saturday's second fastest time with a sizzling all-the-way win from box seven in 29.64.
Quantifiable, trained by Chris O'Brien and a kennelmate of Mortified, clocked early splits of 5.44, 13.74 and 17.82 to run her rivals off their legs for a five-and-a-half lengths victory.
The versatile sprinter-stayer Zipping Orlando gave trainer John Finn a winning double and another MDC semi-finalist when he won his qualifier on Saturday in 29.69.
Zipping Orlando was only fourth to the middle stages but really cut loose leaving the back straight and swept around pacemakers Starline Express and Rocket Riot to dash clear on the home turn.
Not surprisingly, Zipping Orlando's run home time was a powerful 11.62.
Although three winners went faster, no MDC qualifying winner was more impressive than Queensland Jay Is Jay, who overcame a bad check going through the first turn to run down Flash As Joe by just under a length in 29.73.
After the race handler Michael Zammit, whose wife Selena trains Jay Is Jay, said: "He had not been to Wentworth Park since March and I would have liked to have given a trial at Wenty before tonight's race.
"It didn't work out so I was very pleased with his win, especially as he went into the race needing a run and then getting that bad check in the early stages.
"If Jay Is Jay can bring his Albion Park form to Wenty he is capable of winning the final.''
Rank outsider Lady Divine, a $51 chance, pulled off the upset of the night for her new trainer Justin King when she led throughout to win her qualifier in 29.82.
Matching those figures was Has Ability, an $8.50 chance, who gave trainer Stuart Hazlett and owner Andrew Fenech the thrill of a lifetime to win his qualifier in 29.82.
Andrew Fenech said later: "I bought Has Ability for $7500 when he was just three months old.
"I had inspected a litter and he impressed me because he seemed keener than his siblings.
"Stuart had phoned me a couple of days earlier and asked me when I was going to buy another dog for him to train.
"I was in hospital at the time but promised him that as soon as I got out I would do that and Has Ability is the result.''
Least experienced MDC qualifying winner was the Jodie Lord-trained Bandit Bluey, who was making her Wentworth Park debut and having only her fifth start when she led from the first turn to win in 29.86.
Slowest of the eight qualifying winners was Akii Princess, a $21 outsider who led all the way in 30.05.
Trained by George Borg, Akii Princess is the first greyhound owned by Ahmad Istanbouli, a Sydney chef.
"I had to rush away from my restaurant tonight to get to Wentworth Park in time to see Akii Princess win,'' an excited Istanbouli said.
"Akii Princess is a chance in any race she contests when she nails the start like she did tonight.
"She has good early pace and that, combined with a quick getaway, will always give her a hope.
"I bought Akii Princess when she was just two months old and whatever happens in the semi-finals, I am absolutely ecstatic to have my very first greyhound in a race like the Million Dollar Chase.''
