Australia’s best young sprinters will start their journey towards Group 1 glory this Saturday night in 12 super heats of the Group 1 Hudson Pacific Maturity Classic over 525 metres at The Meadows.

The $145,000 age-restricted classic has brought together an outstanding ensemble of young greyhounds, all aiming to join an honour roll jam-packed full of former champions and outstanding sires.

Highlights include:

Heat one – Boom youngster Mepunga Hayley (box two) will be looking to quickly return to the winners’ list after a fourth-placed effort in the Group 2 WA Oaks.

Heat three – Group 1 National Derby winner Zipping Brock (box three) to face off against the poorly drawn Samus Allen (box five), who won the first seven starts of her career.

Heat six – Recent Bendigo Cup winner Warrior King draws perfectly in box one against talented NSW chaser Shoulders (box two), who has broken the 30-second barrier at his last two wins at The Meadows.

Heat seven – One of Australia’s best chasers in Hooksy (box two) looks very hard to beat from the draw. He takes on listed Vic Breeders winner Pappa Gallo (box six) and Deadly Clear (box eight) – a recent 29.12 winner at Sandown.

Heat eight – Group 1 Sapphire Crown champ Oakvale Destiny on debut at The Meadows from box six, against fastest Bendigo Cup heat winner Zipping Snoopy (box two) and highly-rated youngster Eliza Blanche (box eight).

Heat 10 – Peter Mosman finalist Stilton Blue (box two) makes the trek down from New South Wales and meet My Bro Fabio (box six), who has a 29.69PB at The Meadows.

The winners, runners up and eight fastest thirds will progress to Saturday week’s semi-final stage, on a night where heats of the Group 2 AWM Distance Championship will also take place.

For full fields of Saturday night’s Meadows meeting, CLICK HERE

Pictured: Hooksy is among the big names to contest the Maturity Classic heats.