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Dashing Slay after taking out the Launching Pad 📷 Bluestream Pictures

  • Wednesday, 16 Jul, 2025,
  • by Corey Smith

Talent Overflow: Maturity Promises Fireworks

Mark your calendars – the road to greatness starts this weekend.

One of the most anticipated events on the Australian greyhound racing calendar, the Group 1 Maturity Classic, is set for Saturday night and what a night of racing we have ahead of us!

With a proud history dating back to 1970, the age-restricted classic has become a launchpad for future champions – Temlee, Fernando Bale & Wow She’s Fast just to name a few – and 2025 is shaping up to be no different.

82 nominations unfortunately doesn’t fit into 64 runners and while the series is loaded full of class, there are some phenomenal talents missing the cut showcasing the strength of the 2025 series; one of the more exciting in recent memory.

For owners and trainers, it’s an opportunity to cement their place among the sport’s elite. For fans, it’s a thrilling glimpse of tomorrow’s champions, today.

Heat 1
Inarguably the headline act of the first heat is Sooty Keeping, the recent Group 1 Flying Amy winner also won a Group 3 from this exact draw and is said to have trialled well in the lead up to this feature. This race won’t be a lay down misère for the star from NSW though with a case to be made for others including the ultra-intriguing It’s Mikado Time – who featured in Jason Adams’ ‘Five contenders to watch’ article earlier this week.

Heat 2
Speed, strength, upside and consistency – this heat has it all! On paper, the recent G1 Harrison-Dawson finalist Wyong Dallas stands out in a heat where Delicate looks ideally drawn, Ethanol Secret will be ‘riding for luck’, Paw Tonk is unbeaten from the draw and Exaggerator will apply plenty of pressure early.

Heat 3
The speed in the early stages of this one will be electric with the likes of Slick SplitsMake Me King & Canya Mayhem all having the ability to set a low 5-second first split while the likes of Paw Barton & Raining Fire will be roaring home late.

Heat 4
The Kayla Cottrell-trained, SA-owned Dashing Slay was phenomenal throughout the Launching Pad & Sapphire Crown series going back to April/May and returned to the racetrack in blistering fashion at Shepparton on Monday. She will face stiff opposition in the likes of recent Bendigo Roses winner, Lakeview Jude & the holder of the fastest first split at The Meadows in 2025 – Kurnai Bolt.

Heat 5
In 2022 we saw the Greenough/Sprod combination dominate this series as Wow She’s Fast solidified her standing as one of the sport’s greats and that combination presents the uber-talented Saquon, the fastest ever maiden winner at Sandown Park. Destroying is already a Group 1 finalist in two states from just 11 career starts and now ventures from the dominant Lord kennel in NSW to the all-conquering Thompson kennel in Victoria. Paw Zuri claimed the scalp of Phoenix-winner Schillaci at her latest outing.

Heat 6
Strength jumps off the page in Heat 6 with the Dailly-trained duo of Sunset Wisp & Vista Weird both having featured in the recent Group 2 McKenna Memorial over 595m. Further intrigue gets added to the race with the likes of Nigel Devere & Robert Keeping both being recent Group 1 Vic Peters finalists at Wentworth Park.

Heat 7
Paw Vortex is proven to be a consistent top-liner with appearances in the G1 Silver Chief & G1 Rookie Rebel on his resume already. Dear Carla Lou is yet to miss a podium in 13 attempts and boasts an ability to lay down first sectionals that are rarely matched. Tribeca went ballistic in February during the Vic Bred maiden series but will need some luck from the wide draw. Victorian’s may not know the name Taw Galaxy yet, but you will, the NSW-raider is a star. In a heat loaded with intrigue, Canya Ultimate may provide the most – she’s won 7 from 8 and steps up to the ‘500’ for the first time.

Heat 8
The temptation to step up Tim Zoo’s half-brother, Select Kyron, was too much to resist for Ken Bailey during the Pink Diamond series but after a month off the racetrack the rising star returns to the 525-metre journey. Shima Time has been tough to catch for punters but landed the Pink Diamond Rookie Sprinter title at Geelong and oozes potential while Hot Nanu has been in superb form for Team Sharp.

THE FIREBALL

While The Maturity takes centre stage, The Meadows will also host three heats of the Group 3 Fireball over the 730m for the open-class stayers.

With established group-race performers Ethanol Water, LanfrancoElla’s Babe Late Night News taking on the next generation of stayers in Without A TraceFade to Black & Panama Rhode, the stage is set for a phenomenal night of racing.

Corey SmithCorey Smith

Corey Smith

Corey Smith has been on the periphery of greyhound racing for the majority of his life. He currently spends his time at The Meadows as Racing & Media manager while moonlighting at SEN Track. He’s also a regular contributor on Sky Racing & RSN and is a group-winning greyhound owner.

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