Tennessee Tiger nailed the start for just the third time in 38 appearances but his slick getaway in Saturday's TAB Million Dollar Chase Prelude enabled him to go into next Friday night's semi-finals as fastest of the eight qualifying winners.
Tennessee Tiger, usually a tardy beginner, came out running from box five and led throughout, posting brilliant early splits of 5.42 and 13.86 before covering the 520m in 29.79.
Only other Prelude winner to break 30sec was the Justin King-trained Incapacitated, who finished fast to score in 29.97, while last year's final winner Good Odds Harada staged an outstanding performance to win in 30.00.
After Tennessee Tiger's win trainer Mark Gatt said: "He has speared the lids like that just twice previously, once at Dapto and once at Wenty Park.
"Now he only has to do over the next two Friday nights,'' Gatt quipped, referring to the Chase semi-finals and final.
Good Odds Harada's win was good as the dog dwelt slightly from box two and was hampered soon after when Ultimate Speed, who had box four, veered left and hampered the 2019 final winner.
"I was happy with his run because Wallbanger, who made the pace, is a very strong dog who is capable of running 600m, so it was a good effort for my dog to run him down,'' Good Odds Harada's trainer Frank Hurst said.
Peter Lagogiane, who trained 2018 Million Dollar Chase winner Mystic Riot, took out two of Saturday's Preludes, scoring with former Tasmanian Handsome Prince in 30.09 and Shetland in 30.07.
"Handsome Prince broke 30sec in his first trial at Wentworth Park last Tuesday night so I wasn't surprised at how well he went,'' Lagogiane said.
"He had finished second and fourth in two Richmond starts for me and I was a bit concerned so phoned the dog's former Tasmanian trainer Pat Ryan.
"Pat assured me the dog would come good when he drew inside so to win well from box five tonight was encouraging.''
Zulu Warlord's 30.01 Prelude win was a triumph for trainer Mick Hardman as the dog was having only his sixth start.
"His owner James Shoebridge had contacted me asking me to buy a dog for him and after Zulu Warlord had two races I decided he was the greyhound I wanted,'' Hardman said.
"The dog's previous owner warned me Zulu Warlord might not get a strong 520m but the dog has now had two wins and two placings from four races at Wentworth Park.''
Owner James Shoebridge said: "I'm rapt because I have spent a lot of money on greyhounds and Zulu Warlord is not only my first city winner but is now in a Million Dollar Chase semi.''
Trainer Michael Eberand is seldom without a big race qualifier and his consistent front runner Ebby Jet Power earned a place in a Chase semi with an all-the-way Prelude win in 30.15 while Cumbria Belle, owned and trained by her breeder Steve Fitch, led throughout to qualify for Friday's semi-finals in 30.03.
Boom stayer Good Juan, having his first start for trainer Jason Mackay, staged another remarkable last-to-first performance to win Saturday's only 720m event, running down crack Melbourne stayer Here's Tears in 42.43.
"I had given Good Juan a couple of trials and one was satisfactory but the other was a shocker,'' Jason Mackay said later.
"But I had to nominate the dog for Saturday night because Good Juan needed a good hit-out before Friday night's heats of the 720m group 1 Sydney Cup.''
