Zipping Alabama went from being an up-and-coming middle to long distance bitch to a promising sprinter when she won over 520m at Wentworth Park on August 31 in 29.52 but completed an extraordinary transformation with a sensational 29.36 performance on Saturday night.
The John Finn-trained bitch settled in second spot behind Vamoose in the second TAB Million Dollar Chase prelude and railed to the lead on the home turn before careering away to win by over six lengths in 29.36.
That was far and away quickest of the five Million Dollar Chase qualifiers with Father Rick winning in 29.74, Victoria's Zippy Tesla in 29.83, previous Chase winner She's A Pearl scoring in 29.86 while WA star Panama Pepper was slowest at 29.93.
After Zipping Alabama's astonishing performance, trainer John Finn's wife Minnie said: "Until she won in 29.52 on August 31, John and I had been preparing her for the 622m GRNSW Middle Distance Series event at Richmond last Friday night.
"But when she went so quick 10 days ago we changed plans and put her into the Million Dollar Chase series.
"It is incredible how Zipping Alabama has changed her racing habits.
"Early in her career she used to come out of the boxes like a kangaroo but now she is nailing the start.''
When Father Rick led throughout to win his Chase prelude on Saturday in 29.74, trainer Ray Webster said he was not surprised because the dog was far better off when able to make the pace.
"He is the most frustrating dog I have trained,'' Webster said.
"When Father Rick gets behind one or two leaders he always seems to take the wrong option, when he should stick to the rails he tries to go around them or vice versa.
The Andrea Dailly-trained Zippy Tesla was a heavily backed favourite before running down Hold Me Up to score by a head in his Chase prelude in 29.83.
Hold Me Up headed boom Victorian Devine Empress on the back straight and led until the last stride for trainer Joe Comito.
"Box one was the key to him running such a big race tonight, Hold Me Up is desperate for an inside draw,'' Comito said later.
In the fourth Chase prelude She's A Pearl (pictured) was surprisingly beaten for early pace by SA-owned He's On Fire, who is being prepared for the Chase series by Nowra's Allan Manwaring.
He's On Fire carved out blistering early splits of 5.38 and 13.74 before fading in the straight, with She's A Pearl getting up to win by three quarters of a length in 29.86.
Panama Pepper, trained in WA by champion sprinter Tommy Shelby's trainer Steve Withers, was reported to have trialled 29.60 at Wentworth Park in preparation for Saturday's fifth Chase prelude but took 29.93 to nose out On The Bus in the last bound.
On The Bus ran the race of his life to advance to Friday night's Chase semi-finals, posting quick early sections of 5.38 and 13.81.
Zipping Lyris gave in form trainer John Finn a winning double when she ran down Sonic Oak on the line to win a 520m fifth grade in 29.96, while fellow fifth graders Lochinvar Lona and Agland Luai recorded their personal best Wentworth Park times by scoring in 29.58 and 29.65 respectively.
