When defending champion Ferdinand Boy won his heat of the $70,335 Group 2 CKH Painting Shepparton Cup on Monday night, going just a length outside his own 450m record, he was on target to become just the second sprinter to win the race twice.

Thorgil Magic, which went back-to-back in 1985-1986, is the only multiple Shepparton Cup winner.

But Ferdinand Boy’s task became much tougher when young upstart Mr. Audacious sensationally smashed his course record in the final heat, running 24.66sec at just his fifth start.

Click HERE  for TAB’s latest Shepparton Cup Final market

Mr. Audacious (Box 6) is TAB’s $3.40 favourite for Saturday night’s $47,000 to-the-winner final, ahead of first reserve Paua Of Buddy at $3.50, Ferdinand Boy (Box 3) at $3.70 and Robbie Rotten (Box 8) at $4.40.

“He (Ferdinand Boy) is going as well as he was 12 months ago, but Box 3 is not a good box.”

– DAVID GEALL

After winning last year’s Shepparton Cup from Box 8, Ferdinand Boy’s trainer David Geall is concerned about his track specialist’s draw this time around.

“He’s going as well as he was 12 months ago, but Box 3 is not a good box,” Geall said.

KEY TIMES

5:48pm First race
6:59pm Cup Night Match Race (Race 4)  Typhoon Sammy v Paua Of Buddy ?
7:23pm Tony McGrath Memorial (Race 5; first leg of Quaddie)
7:46pm Cup Night Stayers (Race 6)
8:25pm G2 Shepparton Cup Final (Race 8)
9:50pm Last race (Race 12)

“I feel that in this field, where the whole field is so quick early, he had to draw one or eight to be a good chance and I think drawing three is going to make it difficult.

“Ferdinand Boy had Box 8 last year and I think Robbie Rotten (Box 8) is drawn to miss the jam-up on Saturday. It was a shame to lose the track record, but Mr. Audacious is a very fast young dog, and I don’t think his age will beat him in the final.”

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
– Watch every race live and free on Sky Racing.
– Live broadcast from the track with Troy Harley, James van de Maat and Corey Smith on The Watchdog app and at watchdog.grv.org.au.
– Behind the scenes Twitter coverage with ‘@WatchDogRacing’.
– Regular updates with Trent Langskaill on RSN Racing and Sport (927 AM).

Warragul Cup winner Robbie Rotten, which also broke Ferdinand Boy’s previous track record when runner-up to Mr. Audacious on Monday night, boasts an excellent record in ‘the pink’, from where he’s won six of nine starts.

Idolize, the only female finalist and one of two Peter Presutto-trained runners, improved her perfect Shepparton 450m record to three-from-three with her heat victory and is chasing a third Group trophy after winning the Group 1 National Futurity and Group 2 Laurels finals, both restricted to her sex.

POINTS OF INTEREST
– The first Shepparton Cup was held in 1973, won by Garner Bin.
– Ferdinand Boy is attempting to win back-to-back Shepparton Cups and become only the second sprinter after Thorgil Magic (1985-1986) to win the race twice.
– The race record of 24.75sec was set by Ferdinand Boy in the 2021 Cup Final, which stood as the track record until being broken by Mr. Audacious in Monday night’s heats.
– Idolize is the only female in the race and is striving to become the first of her sex to win the Shepparton Cup since Hanify’s Impact in 2008.
– With two finalists in Dynamic Prince and Idolize, Devon Meadows-based Peter Presutto is the only trainer with multiple runners.

Here’s a rundown of the contenders:

Group 2 SHEPPARTON CUP FINAL (450m)
Shepparton, Saturday 8:25pm
First prize $47,000

1 DREAM WIZARD
Trainer: Melanie Lithgow, Devon Meadows VIC
Breeding: March 2018 Walk Hard x Gotham Queen
Record: Won 32 from 81
Shepparton PB: 24.88 seconds
Group wins: None
TAB fixed odds: $14

Comment: Oldest and most experienced finalist. Yet to win a Group event but contesting fourth country cup final. Hasn’t missed a place in 12 starts from Box 1, with six wins and six minor placings.

2 DYNAMIC PRINCE
Trainer: Peter Presutto, Devon Meadows VIC
Breeding: January 2020 Dyna Double One x Peta Pitstop
Record: Won 8 from 21
Shepparton PB: 25.06 seconds
Group wins: None
TAB fixed odds: $15

Comment: One of two finalists trained by Peter Presutto and appearing in first Group final.

3 FERDINAND BOY
Trainer: David Geall, Lara VIC
Breeding: January 2019 Fernando Bale x Nayla Swift
Record: Won 39 from 72
Shepparton PB: 24.75 seconds
Group wins: G2 Shepparton Cup, G2 Ballarat Cup, G2 Healesville Cup
TAB fixed odds: $3.70

Comment: Defending Shepparton Cup champion, striving to become only the second sprinter to win the race twice. Formerly held both the 385m and 450m track records at Shepparton, winning six from eight over 450m. Claimed $50,000 GRV bonus for winning three country cups in a calendar year in 2021.

4 COMPLIANCE
Trainer: Karen Pitt, Pearcedale VIC
Breeding: November 2019 Black Magic Opal x Flowing
Record: Won 7 from 13
Shepparton PB: 24.93 seconds
Group wins: None
TAB fixed odds: $7.50

Comment: Ran second in G1 Silver Chief Final at The Meadows. Trainer Karen Pitt’s partner, Wayne Vassallo, won the 2015 Shepparton Cup with Azza Azza Azza.

5 IDOLIZE
Trainer: Peter Presutto, Devon Meadows VIC
Breeding: January 2020 My Redeemer x Hightan
Record: Won 12 from 21
Shepparton PB: 25.01 seconds
Group wins: G1 National Futurity, G2 Laurels
TAB fixed odds: $7

Comment: Only female finalist, striving to become first of her sex to win the race since 2008. She’s finished top-two in her last 10 starts (seven wins), including two Group wins and running second to superstar Aston Rupee in the Group 1 Temlee, and is unbeaten in three 450m assignments at Shepparton.

6 MR. AUDACIOUS
Trainer: Rachael Busuttil, Kilmany VIC
Breeding: April 2020 Beast Unleashed x Audacious Bell
Record: Won 4 from 5
Shepparton PB: 24.66 seconds (track record)
Group wins: None
TAB fixed odds: $3.40

Comment: Youngest and most inexperienced finalist that sensationally broke the track record in his Cup heat at just his fifth start.

7 SUBSTANTIAL
Trainer: Anthony Azzopardi, Rowsley VIC
Breeding: August 2019 Barcia Bale x On The Runway
Record: Won 10 from 28
Shepparton PB: 25.00 seconds
Group wins: None
TAB fixed odds: $13

Comment: Contesting first Group event.

8 ROBBIE ROTTEN
Trainer: Kayla Cottrell, Pearcedale VIC
Breeding: October 2018 Keybow x Ness Quick
Record: Won 15 from 33
Shepparton PB: 24.88 seconds
Group wins: G2 Warragul Cup
TAB fixed odds: $4.40

Comment: Ex-New South Wales sprinter, trained by teenage sensation Kayla Cottrell. Chasing second country cup title, after winning Warragul Cup in January. Ran second in heat to new track record holder Mr. Audacious, also breaking the previous record himself.

Reserves
9 PAUA OF BUDDY    SCRATCHED
Trainer: Steve White, Buln Buln East VIC
Breeding: April 2019 Aston Dee Bee x Paua To Admit
Record: Won 11 from 16
Shepparton PB: 25.07 seconds
Group wins: G2 Bendigo Cup
TAB fixed odds: $3.50

Comment: Won Bendigo Cup last October and was also first reserve for Group 2 Traralgon Cup in January. Has run first or second in last 11 starts (eight wins).

10 ORSON MICK    SCRATCHED
Trainer: Jessica Sharp, Avalon VIC
Breeding: December 2019 Orson Allen x Beanbag
Record: Won 8 from 27
Shepparton PB: 25.15 seconds
Group wins: None
TAB fixed odds: $17

Comment: Would be first appearance in a Group event if a starter.

SHEPPARTON CUP HEAT WINNERS
Monday 14 March
(fastest to slowest)

24.66sec Mr. Audacious ?
24.82sec Ferdinand Boy
24.88sec Dream Wizard
24.93sec Compliance
25.00sec Substantial
25.01sec Idolize

RECENT SHEPPARTON CUP WINNERS

2011 El Grand Senor (Carolyn Jones, Rosedale VIC)
2012 Blackalls Boss (Michelle Mallia, Avalon VIC)
2013 Paw Licking (Kelvyn Greenough, Pearcedale VIC)
2014 *** Race Not Held ***
2015 Azza Azza Azza (Wayne Vassallo, Pearcedale VIC)
2016 Gotta Get Back (John McClelland, Jindera NSW)  February
2016 Aston Bolero (Jason Thompson, Pearcedale VIC)  September
2017 Zinzan Brooke (Brooke Ennis, Lara VIC)
2018 Peter Galo (Garry Selkrig, Devon Meadows VIC)
2019 *** Race Not Held ***
2020 Hard Style Rico (Luckie Karabitsakos, Pearcedale VIC) ?
2021 Ferdinand Boy (David Geall, Lara VIC)

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