Group 1 Maturity Classic – Where Is The Value?

THE Maturity Classic heats are at The Meadows on Saturday night, with some of the country's best young chasers looking to earn a place in the final Group 1 event of the season.

Open to greyhounds up to 30 months of age, the Maturity Classic boasts an honour roll featuring some of the sport greats, including Temlee, Brett Lee, Fernando Bale, Barcia Bale, El Grand Senor, Sennachie and Wow She's Fast to name just a few.

And with $100,000 on offer to the winner, it has attracted some of the best young pups in the country. Baby Jaycee, Launch Code and Victa Damian share $6 favouritism in the TAB all-in market, but there's plenty of talent – and chances – to be found further down the order.

Here are five greyhounds at double figure odds worth following through the series.

Al's Entity (Paul Abela), $21

Race 5 – Box 4 at 7.51pm

His three wins from 15 starts belies his ability. He caught the eye early in his career, winning in 29.27 at Sandown Park at his fifth start and has made two Group finals since, running fourth in the Launching Pad and third in the Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park last Saturday. Showed in an exhibition trial ahead of the Vic Peters that he is capable of series time.

Former Victorian Al's Entity impressed with a trial at @wentyparkgreys last Saturday, clocking 29.50 with splits of 5.48, 13.86 and 17.90.

He takes his place in Heat 2 of the @ladbrokescomau Vic Peters Classic on Saturday night.#thedogs #greyhoundracing @WatchDogRacing pic.twitter.com/FKUz44VB7B

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) June 28, 2023

Nature Strip (David Geall), $21 (pictured)

Race 6 – Box 2 @ 8.12pm

A litter mate to Al's Entity, Nature Strip has won six of his last nine starts, four of which have been in the best time of the meeting. Has drawn one of the favourites for the series, Victa Damian, in his heat but if he can repeat his 5.09 first split over this distance two start back, he could be well clear through the first turn.

Grass is greener

NATURE STRIP proved too classy for his rivals at Geelong.

He has now won five of his past eight outings.#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/L5pXpwVBMe

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) July 8, 2023

Canya Exceed (Emily Azzopardi), $26

Race 10 – Box 8 @ 9.31pm

Won four of his first five starts  – all at Sandown Park – including a slice 29.46 effort in the fourth of those victories. Failed to step after that leading to a run of seven outs which was sensationally snapped last week when winning in 29.70. The time was set up by his 5.03 first split, and while this is much harder both in terms of the opposition and box draw, a repeat of that performance will have him hard to beat.

‘Exceed' excels

CANYA EXCEED was too fast for a field including MEPUNGA SMOKEY – a #PinkDiamond winner – in a sizzling run at @MelbourneGreys.

CANYA EXCEED now has five victories and three minor placings from only 13 starts.#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/FktdsWRVjI

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) July 5, 2023

Aussie Rocks (Geoff Mitchell), $51

Race 11- Box 8 at 9.49pm

A winner of half of his 22 career starts but more impressively, a winner of four of five starts over this track and distance. Include his two starts over 600m, his record at The Meadows is six wins and a second from seven starts. Launch Code is a deserved short favourite in his heat and is one of the leading contenders for the series, but Aussie Rocks has shown that he has the speed, strength and consistency to capitalise should the favourite make a mistake.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie

AUSSIE ROCKS continued the promising start to his career with a dashing display in smart time at @MelbourneGreys.

AUSSIE ROCKS now boasts seven wins and three minor placings from 14 starts.#GreyhoundRacing #PremierRacing pic.twitter.com/PsCD82oaWK

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) April 30, 2023

Navarino (Jason Thompson), $21

Race 12 – Box 7 at 10.10pm

Has built a really solid race record and enters the series having been placed in his last six including four wins, three of which have been over 500m. His last two wins have been in 29.85 at The Meadows and 29.35 at Sandown Park which is more than strong enough to be winning his heat and be a factor in the final.

‘Navarino' notches another win

NAVARINO continued his stellar run of form with his fourth victory from his last six starts in smart time at @sandowndogs.

NAVARINO boasts nine wins and six minor placings from 19 races overall.#GreyhoundRacing #PremierRacing pic.twitter.com/moHO9k8VqK

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) July 6, 2023

The winner of each heat will progress to the Group 1 final on Saturday 22 July.