Even trainer Mark Gatt was in awe of Jungle Johnny after his greyhound came from fifth early with a powerful finishing burst to record easily fastest time in Saturday night's heats of the group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby.
Jungle Johnny, who had his first start for Gatt when he won a 520m fifth grade in 29.46 at WP a week earlier, was third on the back straight before swamping home turn leader Zipping Kristoff in the straight to win by just under a length in 29.53.
Gatt said: "From behind the boxes all I could see was a dog on Jungle Johnny's outside 'giving' it to him all the way to the first turn.''
John Maroun, who owned and trained Jungle Johnny when the greyhound defeated subsequent WP record breaker Dalwhinnie on debut at Wenty on October 10 said on Saturday: "That's why I gave this dog to Mark Gatt.
"Jungle Johnny was too comfortable with me and was doing silly things in his races but Mark has turned him into a real race dog.''
On times Jungle Johnny holds a massive advantage over his nearest rival for next Saturday night's $75,000 to the winner Derby final, with the other heat winners being Paw Oswald in 29.82, West Rock Casey at 29.92 and Trio Of Clowns, who won in 29.98.
Paw Oswald's win for Victorian trainer Mark Delbridge was impressive as the dog was checked at the first turn while the best run of the beaten division was the performance of runner-up Zig Zag Man.
The Syd Swain-trained dog was checked at box rise and was fifth on the back straight before flashing home to snare a place in the final, beaten a half length by Paw Oswald.
Sooty Keeping was Saturday's fastest qualifier for next week's group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity final but the box draw has thrown the race wide open.
Sooty Keeping bungled the start from box one but was aided by a dream run along the rails to lead on the back straight before winning her heat easily in 29.51.
But Sooty Keeping, owned and trained by Charmaine Roberts, is unbeaten in four starts from box one but has drawn eight in the final.
She has not won in three appearances wearing the pink rug and Roberts gives her other finalist, the Jay Opetaia-trained Laura Keeping, who won her heat in 29.62, a great chance.
Laura Keeping has box three and Roberts said: "She is improving all the time.
"Laura Keeping had box eight in her heat but showed great track sense to stay out wide until there was room on the rails and that's when she crossed over to the fence.''
Taormina led to the catching pen but got wide and presented the rails to Sooty Keeping but although she was beaten over four lengths into second place, she has strong claims in the final.
After Taormina drew box one for next Saturday's race, Andy Lord, whose wife Jodie trains the greyhound said: "We couldn't be happier, the rails alley gives her a terrific hope in the final.''
The other Futurity heat was won by the Minnie Finn-trained Zipping Serrano in 29.86, while her litter sister Zipping Mayer gave Finn a second finalist by being runner-up to Sooty Keeping.
Finn said: "Zipping Serrano drew box two and Zipping Mayer got six in the final and they are both drawn all right.
"But Zipping Mayer is actually a little bit quicker than her sister.''
Courtney Barnes, the daughter-in-law of Minnie Finn, secured bragging rights over her mother-in-law when her dog Zipping Chaplin ran down Finn's pair Both Bowers Ace and Gets Late Early to win Saturday's top grade 520m event.
Zipping Chaplin roared home to win by nearly four lengths in a sensational 29.25, .24 inside his previous best WP figures of 29.49.
The Craig Chappelow-trained Overflow Jill took her earnings to over $93,000 with her smart 29.66 win in Saturday's opening event,
It was Overflow Jill's 11th WP win but after the race owner Ray Holt said: "Her litter brother Overflow Beau is a class above her but has been sidelined with a torn back muscle.
"Just the same, i am excited about the prospect of Overflow Jill's future as a brood bitch because she has the makings of a great producer.''
