Expert form analyst The Watchdog expects Koblenz to continue his sensational 11-race winning streak in Saturday night’s star-spangled Maturity Classic heats and is backing the boom youngster to go all the way in the G1 series.
Trained by David Geall, Koblenz, a son of mighty 2015 Maturity hero Fernando Bale, is unbeaten in three starts at The Meadows and The Watchdog is tipping him to overcome classy heat rival Aston Fastnet and earn the chance to emulate his champion sire.
“He’s yet to be headed in his last nine starts, he just does everything right,” The Watchdog said of Koblenz.
“He reminds me a lot of the old champion El Galo; just spears the lids, makes them catch him and he runs time. They’re going to have to run 29.70sec coming from off the speed to pick him up.”
“He (Koblenz) reminds me a lot of the old champion El Galo; just spears the lids, makes them catch him and he runs time.”
Koblenz is joint $6 favourite in TAB’s ‘All In’ Maturity market with another potential superstar in Aston Rupee, which The Watchdog also believes will advance to what looms as a stellar final.
“I expect Aston Rupee to qualify. Nihari Bale should give him a nice run through early, he’s better than these and should be winning. $6 seems a pretty decent price for a greyhound of his calibre, the only concern is that he’s going to want to draw inside in the final.”
Aside from the joint series favourites, The Watchdog sees value in Koblenz’s kennelmate Fernando Mick, another son of the great Fernando Bale, at $21, and is tipping Team Dailly’s $31 chance Lala Kiwi to upstage G1-winning kennelmate Qwara Bale.
The Watchdog’s $50 spend:
Koblenz $20 win @ $6
Fernando Mick $5 win @ $21
Lala Kiwi $4 win @ $31
Time For Peace $4 win @ $51
Black Avenger $5 win @ $101, $10 place @ $21
Lala Ivory $2 win @ $301
Click HERE for TAB’s ‘All In’ Maturity Classic.
“Fernando Mick has drawn box one and there’s not a lot of early speed in this race,” said The Watchdog.
“I think Shima Classic can lead them up but she’ll be a sitting duck mid-race. He (Fernando Mick) has got his box, he ran 29.81sec a couple of weeks back and everything points to him getting every chance to qualify.”
The Watchdog is also very keen on the chances of the Joe Borg-trained Black Avenger in a wide open sixth heat, at a very attractive ‘All In’ quote of $101 for the win and $21 the place.
“I’m really keen on him. I think he’ll win his heat. He’ll follow the red through, he’s quite strong in the run home and I think he can get down to about 29.75sec. I think he’s tremendous value.”
