Smoke Alarm! Zambora's Maturity Classic Calling

CHAMPION trainer Jason Thompson has branded prodigious youngster Zambora Smokey right up to winning Saturday night's Group 1 KCR Transport Maturity Classic Final (525m) at The Meadows.

But you wouldn't know it taking a glance at betting for the $100,000 to-the-winner classic with as much as $20 offered about the son of Zambora Brockie earlier this week.

"He's ridiculous odds in my eyes," declared Thompson.

"This week will be the third two-turn 500 of his career; he's done everything wrong in both of them and still won. I wanted five or seven in the final so to get seven is perfect. He's ready to fire this week – I really like him."

Victorious at 17 of his 24 starts, it was back in May that Zambora Smokey truly announced his arrival on the big stage with comprehensive heat and final wins in the Group 2 Warrnambool Cup.

Chasing home Zambora Smokey in both of those rampaging runs was Simon Told Helen, the three-time group 1 winner favourite for Saturday night's Maturity Classic following a dazzling 29.68 heat success.

"If the race was on a one-turn track Simon Told Helen would be even money and my dog $2.80," Thompson said.

"You can't gauge yet what Zambora Smokey is capable of on two turns. If he steps on Saturday night I've got no doubt he can break five early, run quicker than 17.60 up the back and go around 29.80. And if he does he'll be hard to beat."  

FIELDS AND FORM FOR THE MEADOWS SATURDAY NIGHT

On a stellar card of racing Saturday, Zambora Smokey landed his heat of the Maturity in a smart 30.06 following on from his debut Sandown Park performance, scoring in 29.59.

"His run home time was very good the other night as well," Thompson said.

"He's shown he's not going to be a weak 500m dog. He's got it at both ends and you'd say he's got more upside than a lot of the dogs in the final."

If Zambora Smokey annexes Saturday night's Maturity Classic it will be Thompson's third victory in the age-restricted feature, successful with Run's House in 2007 and Aston Trivett in 2009.

"The plan has always been to have him firing for this week," Thompson added.

"He was a bit full of himself earlier in the week but he's spot on and ready to go now.

"It's a great race with some very good dogs but I wouldn't swap him for anything else. He's absolutely ready to run a big race.

“I couldn't be happier with his preparation and where he's at."