Middle draws aren’t usually a tipster’s first port of call in Group 1 sprint finals but form expert The Watchdog believes the greyhounds drawn in boxes five and six hold the key to Saturday night’s KCR Pet Transport Maturity Classic Final (525m) at The Meadows.

While first reserve Koblenz is TAB’s favourite at $2.60, of those confirmed in the field Andrea Dailly’s G1 Sapphire Crown and G2 Warrnambool Cup heroine Qwara Bale (Box 3) and Jason Thompson’s Aston Fastnet (Box 8) head betting at $3 and $4.20 respectively.

However, The Watchdog believes both are “under the odds”.

“Qwara Bale did ping the lids last week, prior to that she had been missing the start so I think the $3 is a little bit under the odds because I don’t anticipate her spearing the lids again and being able to dictate terms and there’s a heap of speed in the middle and out wide.”

The Watchdog’s $20 Maturity Classic spend:

$10 Win – MR. FIX IT @ $8
$10 Win – HANDSOME RHINO @ $6

That speed in the middle is where The Watchdog is looking to ‘invest’ in the Maturity, specifically in the shape of Jeff Britton’s track specialist Mr. Fix It (Box 5) at $8 and surprise packet Handsome Rhino (Box 6), prepared by Paul Galea, at $6.

“Mr. Fix It has gone 29.75sec previously at The Meadows, he’s won nine from 16 and he just pings the lids for fun so I think he gets across and leads, he’s going to dictate throughout and he’s going to take a power of beating at the $8,” said The Watchdog.

“Handsome Rhino, he’s the real up-and-comer in the event. He’s won four of five at The Meadows over the track and trip, he was the equal fastest heat winner, 29.85sec, and he scorched through the first marker in 5.02sec.

“He does like to stay off the track soon after box-rise, Mr. Fix It is going to clear up the inside division for him, he’s going to get plenty of room on his outside, he’s going to give himself every chance to play a major role.”

At a longer price, The Watchdog feels Hill Top Jack (Box 2), one of David Geall’s two finalists and a litter brother to ‘favourite’ Koblenz, is worth consideration at an appealing $21 quote.

GROUP 1 KCR PET TRANSPORT MATURITY CLASSIC, 525M
The Meadows Saturday, 8.58pm
$100,000 – $28,500 – $14,250
1 NIHARI BALE (Mark Delbridge, Balliang)
2 HILL TOP JACK (David Geall, Lara)
3 QWARA BALE (Andrea Dailly, Anakie)
4 FERNANDO MICK (David Geall, Lara)
5 MR. FIX IT (Jeff Britton, Anakie)
6 HANDSOME RHINO (Paul Galea, St. Albans)
7 ENVY TO BURN (David Burnett, Little River)
8 ASTON FASTNET (Jason Thompson, Pearcedale)
Reserves
9 KOBLENZ (David Geall, Lara)
10 SHIMA CLASSIC (Andrea Dailly, Anakie)

The Watchdog has also taken a close look at Saturday night’s Group 3 Destini Lodge Fireball Final (725m). Check out the box draw and his $20 spend below…

GROUP 3 DESTINI LODGE THE FIREBALL, 725m
The Meadows Saturday, 8.19pm
$25,000 – $7,000 – $3,500
1 HANK THE HUSTLER (Jeff Britton, Anakie)
2 I’M EASY BOYS (Ray Henness, Heathcote)
3 MY FATHER’S SON (Michael Chilcott, Heathcote)
4 STAR BLAZER (Angela Langton, Anakie)
5 WHATEVER I SAY (Robert Redenbach, Cranbourne South)
6 ZIPPING TICKET (Andrea Dailly, Anakie)
7 FIVE STAR (Paul Abela, Parwan)
8 SO PREDICTABLE (Deborah Coleman, Lara)
Reserves
9 RUN LIKE JESS (Robert Camilleri, Lara)
10 LAKEVIEW LOLA (Monique Whelan, Metung)

The Watchdog’s $20 Fireball spend:

$10 Win – HANK THE HUSTLER @ $3
$6 Trifecta – 1 / 2,3,5,7 / 2,3,4,5,7 (377.5%)
$4 Quinella – 1 standout / 2,3,5 (133.33%)