‘Wow’ factor headlines Maturity heats

Superstar Wow She’s Fast made a sensational return to racing on Saturday night with a scintillating performance in the heats of the Group 1 KCR Maturity Classic (525m) at The Meadows.

Making her first appearance since winning the G3 Speed Star series at Sandown Park on May 26, Wow She’s Fast, trained by Kel and Jackie Greenough at Pearcedale, was in a different postcode to her rivals in the fourth of eight ‘must win’ Maturity runoffs.

Wow She’s Fast was a brilliant winner of the inaugural TAB Phoenix last December at her only previous visit to The Meadows, clocking a scorching 29.66sec.

Drawn in Box 4, as she had been in the Phoenix, Wow She’s Fast started $1.50 favourite and justified her $2.50 ‘All In’ series favouritism in stunning fashion.

The daughter of My Bro Fabio, himself a two-time G1 winner at The Meadows, once again lived up to her name, trouncing runner-up Chic ($12.90) by 11.25L in an airborne 29.56sec, easily the quickest qualifying time.

It was Wow She’s Fast’s 13th win from 18 starts and she’ll be chasing her second G1 trophy in next Saturday night’s $100,000 to-the-winner final, with Sandown’s Sapphire Crown already in her keeping.

The millionaire starlet will also be looking to add to her incredible prizemoney tally of $1,067,870, sixth on the all-time Australian list.

VIDEO REPLAY

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 1

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 1
AMRON BOY (1) takes advantage of his rails draw to win in 29.76sec.

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 2

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 2
WHO TOLD SHORTY (2) timed his run to perfection, scoring in 30.01sec.

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 3

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 3
PLAINTIFF (7) showed plenty of zip to overcome a wide draw and win in 29.85sec.

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 4

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 4
WOW SHE’S FAST (4) wins a heat of the Group 1 Maturity Classic tonight in a scintillating 29.56sec (Best).

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 5

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 5
A powerful finish from LEKTRA RHINO (3) saw him score in 30.16sec.

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 6

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 6
KELSEY BALE (8) overcame a touch of interference to win in 29.94sec.

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 7

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 7
DUSTY BOURBSKI (1) got the better of a bumping dual with PANAMA CANAL (6) on the way to victory in 30.37sec.

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 8

2022 KCR MATURITY CLASSIC HEAT 8
HE’S NO SLOUCH (2), a litter brother to WOW SHE’S FAST, wins the final heat in 30.25sec.

Other highlights from Saturday night’s Maturity heats included:

  • Prodigious talent Amron Boy, trained by Brooke Ennis, improved his perfect Box 1 record to five from five in the opening heat, producing the second fastest run of 29.75sec, his third win from four starts at The Meadows.
  • Champion mentor Jason Thompson will take aim at a third Maturity title, with fast 29.85sec heat winner Plaintiff. Plaintiff will be chasing his second Group success at The Meadows after opening his career on a high note in the G3 Vic Bred Maiden series in February. Thompson’s two Maturity wins came with Run’s House (2007) and Aston Trivett (2009).
  • ‘Team Dailly’ will attempt to go back-to-back in the Maturity and win the race for the fourth time in eight years, with 30.37sec heat winner Dusty Bourbksi looking to follow in the pawprints of champion Fernando Bale (2015), Dyna Patty (2018) and Qwara Bale (2021).
  • Who Told Shorty, trained by Brendan Pursell, will be striving to emulate his late, great half-brother Simon Told Helen, the 2020 Maturity winner, after a thrilling 30.01sec victory in heat two.

 

The Fireball heat winners
(fastest to slowest)

  • 29.56sec Wow She’s Fast
  • 29.75sec Amron Boy
  • 29.85sec Plaintiff
  • 29.94sec Kelsey Bale
  • 30.01sec Who Told Shorty
  • 30.16sec Lektra Rhino
  • 30.25sec He’s No Slouch
  • 30.37sec Dusty Bourbski

Image courtesy of Jason McKeown

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