At 22 months of age and with only 10 racetrack appearances Big Opal Rocks was among the youngest and least experienced runners in Saturday night's city qualifying heats of the TAB Million Dollar Chase but the Victorian youngster blitzed his rivals to win by three lengths in fastest time of the night.
Big Opal Rocks was a close third at the first turn but railed to the lead going through the catching pen and streaked away on the back straight before comfortably defeating noted strong finisher Zipping Tesla.
Big Opal Rocks' Victorian trainer Mario Briganti said later: "I trialled him over 520m at Wenty and he clocked 29.50 so I knew he was good enough to be a big chance.
"I did realise it was a big ask to expect a youngster with such limited experience to take on this class of greyhound but I figured that Big Opal Rocks doesn't know how old he is.''
Big Opal Rocks, who had previously won six of his 10 Victorian starts, covered the 520m on Saturday in 29.64, with his run home time of 11.71 the best of the five MDC qualifying races.
Perth Cup winner Vice Grip upstaged boom Victorian sprinter Wow She's Fast in the second fastest time of 29.72, running down the Launching Pad winner by three-quarters of a length.
Wow She's Fast dwelt at the start and was hampered going into the first turn but surged to the lead through the catching pen and looked all over a winner when she dashed well clear on the back straight.
But after leading clearly turning for home, the early effort took its toll and Vice Grip, who had sat behind Wow She's Fast throughout the race, powered down the outside to win running away.
Top Sydney trainer John Finn's Zipping Kyrgios has had to miss the Million Dollar Chase due to a sprained wrist but Finn's wife Minnie enjoyed some big race glory when she handled Vice Grip on Saturday night.
"His trainer Adam Smithson sent Vice Grip across to John and I to handle in the race,'' Minnie Finn said.
National Derby finalist Boston Garden gave Victorian media identity George Farrugia and top Melbourne trainer Jeff Britton an MDC heat winner when he won in 29.81, while Golden Easter Egg finalist Louis Rumble won his heat by seven lengths in 29.85.
After the race Louis Rumble's trainer Steve Kavanagh said: "That was his 28th win in 54 starts so I can't ask for much more than that.
"Louis Rumble might not be a champion but he will do me until a better one comes along.
"He had box eight tonight but I would prefer to see him in the first row boxed, that is one, three, five, or seven, in Friday's semi-finals.
"Louis Rumble did not ping the lids tonight but because he musters speed so rapidly, people tend to think he always comes out running.''
She's A Pearl's kennelmate Coast Model, who has been plagued by unsuitable wide draws recently, made full use of box one to win the other MDC heat in 30.04.
The JODIE Lord-trained Coast Model was fourth approaching the first turn took advantage of a collision which saw Levitation, Lala Kiwi and Compliance come together and lose ground on the bend.
Placegetters in Saturday's heats will advance to the MDC semi-finals at Wentworth Park on Friday night.
