“Unfortunately, the potential superstar Mr. Audacious has been scratched, so it opens the race up a bit, and I thought he was a real powerplay in this race.”
That’s The Watchdog’s take following the shock withdrawal of the sport’s “next big thing” from tonight’s Group 2 SJC Concreting Ballarat Cup Final.
Click HERE for TAB’s latest Ballarat Cup Final market
“It’s a shame to see him not going around, but it opens the door for Ferdinand Boy (Box 7) to go back-to-back in the Ballarat Cup,” said the expert form analyst.
“He was brilliant in his heat… He’s going super at the moment. If he does everything right at box rise and gets across, he’s going to prove hard to hold out. I think this is probably his race to lose now.”
“I think this is probably Ferdinand Boy’s race to lose now.”
– THE WATCHDOG
However, The Watchdog is also keen on the chances of Hennessey (Box 1).
“He’s five of six from the ‘red’ and four-from-four at Ballarat. I thought his heat run was stellar. He found trouble in the run and still managed to pick himself up and score.”
The Watchdog’s $20 spend
$10 Trifecta on 1,5,7 / 1,3,5,7 / 1,3,5,6,7,8 (27.77% return)
$10 Exacta on 1,5,7 / 1,3,5,7 (111.11% return)
The form guru added Robbie Rotten (Box 3) will be “relieved to see Mr. Audacious out of this race”.
“He got beat in his heat and Mr. Audacious beat him in a Shepparton Cup heat as well. But his run last week was tremendous.”
The Watchdog says, “the run to the first turn is going to be very crucial”.
“I think Ferdinand Boy or Hennessey can exit the first turn in front and if that’s the case, the rest of the field is going to have their work cut out reeling them in.”
Group 2 BALLARAT CUP FINAL (450m)
Ballarat Race 8, Friday 9:27pm
First prize $50,000
1 HENNESSEY (Ashlee Terry, Lara VIC)
2 YOZO BALE (Correy Grenfell, Anakie VIC)
3 ROBBIE ROTTEN (Kayla Cottrell, Pearcedale VIC) 
4 MR. AUDACIOUS SCRATCHED
5 SUBSTANTIAL (Anthony Azzopardi, Rowsley VIC)
6 COMPLIANCE (Karen Pitt, Pearcedale VIC)
7 FERDINAND BOY (David Geall, Lara VIC)
8 DO IT (Jeff Britton, Anakie VIC)
Reserves
9 PERFECT COLOUR [Box 4] (Jane Reynolds, Pearcedale VIC)
10 UNATHI BALE SCRATCHED
WATCH: Three-time country cup champion FERDINAND BOY (3) secured his 40th win at start 75 in his heat of the Group 2 Ballarat Cup (450m) in 25.04 seconds on April 1. Results
