Victorian sprinter Endale Mekonnen pledged to make a statement and was as good as his word as he clocked the fastest heat time in the Stawell Gift.
Racing in the first of the 20 heats at Central Park on Saturday, the 20-year-old stopped the clock at 12.07 seconds off a 7m handicap.
It marked Mekonnen as favourite to take home the $40,000 winner's cheque in the 142nd edition of the 120m handicap event on Easter Monday when the semi-finals and final will take place.
"I knew I was one of the favourites so I had to make a statement," said Mekonnen.
"I came here to win.
"The celebration at the end (of the heat) meant a lot.
"I feel way better than I did last year.
"I'm much stronger and I'm happy with the win."
Among the other quickest heat winners were Jack Lacey (12.15), Maki Loukeris (12.20), Jake Ireland (12.21) and Brad Hunt (12.25), who shaded one of the pre-event favourites, Tom Pellow, in a photo finish in heat 10.
Pellow also advanced to the semis as one of the next fastest qualifiers.
But defending champ and backmarker Ryan Tarrant was eliminated after he trailed home in fifth place in his opening-round heat off scratch.
Queenslander Chloe Mannix-Power threw down the gauntlet in the opening round of the women's Gift, clocking the fastest time of 13.34 off a mark of 4.25m.
"There were a lot nerves there on the start line but we got there and it was unexpected," said an emotional Mannix-Power.
"But I thought it would be quick, so it was good.
"I expect to be strong.
"Robbo (coach Brett Robinson) and I have put a lot of work into it and we're hoping to make it to the final on Monday and hopefully take home first place.
"I'd love to take home the 40-grand cheque but that's what everyone wants to do here."
Among the other impressive heat winners were Jemma Pollard (13.48), Chloe Kinnersly (13.50) and Angelina Windshuttle (13.56).
But as was the case in the men's Gift, defending women's champ Bella Pasquali (14.45 off a mark of 2.5m) was run out in the heats.
