It’s a race for the ages!
Eight sprint tyros clash in tonight’s $100,000 to-the-winner G1 Maturity Classic at The Meadows.
So, who ‘comes of age’?
Expert form analyst The Watchdog tips track specialist Mr. Fix It (15 from 37 – 9 from 16 Trk/Dst) to get the ‘job’ done over surprise packet Handsome Rhino (7 from 15 – 4 from 5 Trk/Dst) and G3 Speed Star finalist Aston Fastnet (9 from 20).
But beware new sprint queen Qwara Bale (17 from 30 – 5 from 10 Trk/Dst). She’s already won the G1 Sapphire Crown and G2 Warrnambool Cup.
Meanwhile, Listed Cup Night Stayers winner Hank The Hustler (16 from 47 – 4 from 5 Box 1) will attempt to ‘swindle’ his rivals in the $25,000 to-the-winner G3 Fireball.
However, he’ll have a battle on his hands against ‘sparring partner’ and G3 Speed Star winner Five Star, along with staying revelation Whatever I Say (7 from 17), who defeated him in a heat last week.
Wow! How’s this for a classic FFA match-up that reads more like a G1 final – Aston Rupee (9 from 18 – 29.47sec PB) v Koblenz (16 from 22 – 11 of past 12) v Shima Shine (37 from 63 – 9 from 12 Box 8).
Dual G1 finalist Shima Classic (10 from 25 – 29.76sec PB) was overrun by Fernando Mick (9 from 31 – 6 from 15 Trk/Dst) in a G1 Maturity Classic heat and is eyeing her third win from six attempts at The Meadows in Race 2.
Here’s an extensive analysis of today’s Must Watch Race, and be sure to scroll down further for ? The Watchdog’s $10 spend…
? MUST-WATCH RACE: KCR Pet Transport Maturity Classic Final
QWARA BALE ? MR. FIX IT ? HANDSOME RHINO ? ASTON FASTNET
? The Meadows ? Race 8 ? 525m ⏱ 8:58pm
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666541495/race/8
The Watchdog says ?: It is going to be a thrilling final and sprint queen QWARA BALE (3) has been installed as the favourite. She only recorded a steady 30.19sec heat win, however the track had tapered off by the end of the night, so the run was a lot faster than it looked. My biggest concern with her tonight is that she is not always great at box rise and with the abundance of early pace drawn in the middle, she is likely to get crowded early and shuffled back. ASTON FASTNET (8) followed up his breathtaking 29.62sec Albion Park win with a cracking 29.85sec Maturity heat win last week and, in the process, he was able to topple excitement machine KOBLENZ (9). There is no doubting that ‘Fastnet’ is the fastest chaser in the race, however the box draw has not done him any favours and he cannot afford to make any mistakes at box rise. MR. FIX IT (5) holds the key to the race. He has gone sub 5 seconds to the first marker on three occasions here and the way he was able to hold off DO IT in his heat made him one of the most impressive qualifiers. He should have enough pace to cross to the lead and with a scorching 29.75sec PB, they will have their work cut out trying to reel him in. HANDSOME RHINO (6) was the equal fastest heat winner and like the runner drawn on his inside, he is armed with blistering early speed. He should be in the firing line from the outset. HILL TOP JACK (2) and ENVY TO BURN (7) don’t have the same profiles as the ‘big guns’, but both are incredibly talented and more than capable of causing an upset.
Selections: 5 – 6 – 8 – 7
