Series Favourites Bounced Out Of Ballarat Cup

RED hot series favourites Silver Lake and Shima Shine have been eliminated from the Group 2 Ballarat Cup following their shock heat defeats on Monday.

But it was a very different story for Shepparton Cup winner Ferdinand Boy which cruised into Friday night's $47,000-to-the-winner final with a sparkling 24.92 heat victory.

Continuing his spectacular recent form, the David Geall-trained son of Fernando Bale made it win 18 from 31 starts with his all-the-way heat success, the performance ensuring he'll start tight in the market for Friday's finale with fastest qualifier Shima Classic which annexed the final heat in a slashing 24.76.

Recording the performance of the afternoon, Shima Classic exploded out of box eight to charge into the final in dominant fashion for trainer Andrea Dailly.

Seeing in her second birthday in the best possible way, the daughter of Mepunga Blazer continued the dazzling start to her career which included making the Australian Cup Final after just nine appearances.

And following her sizzling heat victory on Monday the budding young star of Victorian racing will take a power of beating in Friday night's final from box two.

Her first section of 6.31 was by far the slickest of the heats and in most quarters understood to be the record.

The opening heat went the way of Bound To Succeed for Noel Massina in 25.12, the prolific winning son of Dyna Double One qualifying for his first group race final at his first time of trying.

Winner at 27 of his 44 starts at a strike-rate of 60 percent, Bound To Succeed defeated outsider Pirate's Patch by a neck in a heat where the more fancied Yozo Bale – winner of last year's Ballarat Cup – and Paua Of Oscar finished third and fifth respectively.

Heat three saw track record holder Silver Lake start a raging hot $1.30 favourite from box eight.

But after a tardy beginning it only got worse for the Graham James-trained boom youngster, finishing a soundly beaten sixth in a heat won by Oriental Amber for Rod Clark in a slick 24.89.

With punters on their knees following Silver Lake's shock defeat it was more of the same in heat four with dual group 1 winner Shima Shine finishing third as a rock bottom $1.28 favourite.

Stepping out after being bounced out of the Golden Easter Egg last weekend, Shima Shine, a previous Ballarat track record holder, had his colours lowered by the Jason Thompson-trained Aussie Secret in 25.02 with Dream Wizard finishing second.

The fifth qualifier produced another upset result with Bulleteer winning at double figure odds for trainer Darren Fisher.

The son of El Grand Senor went into his first group race assignment in sensational form but given the sharp class rise was sent out a $16 chance by punters.

But after a customary slick beginning it was all one way traffic, defying the challenge mounted by Weblec Jet late to score by three-quarters of a length in a tidy 25.07.

Group 2 Ballarat Cup Box Draw:

1. Aussie Secret
2. Shima Classic
3. Bound To Succeed
4. Aston Gwen
5. Bulleteer
6. Oriental Amber
7. Fortuna Bale
8. Ferdinand Boy
9. Ultimate Avenger
10. Weblec Jet

Previous Ballarat Cup Winners

1960 Rebby Boy, 1961 Dalemee, 1962 Eerie Town, 1963 Alrarniv 1964, 1965 Unknown, 1966 Unknown, 1967 Unknown, 1968 Baytown's Son, 1969 My Gina, 1970 1971 Fawn Metal, 1972 Master Caleb, 1973 She's My Girl, 1974 Fawn Capri, 1975 Ben Boro 1976 Ernie Diro, 1977  "Not Held", 1978 "Not Held", 1979 Nelson's Mate, 1980 Swift As Light, 1981 Johnny's Monaro, 1982 Satan's Shroud, 1983 Total Claim, 1984 Lady Lilly, 1985 Trisun, 1986 "Not Held", 1987 Shining Chariot, 1988 Kepler, 1989 Hay Dinney, 1990 Welcome Stranger, 1991 Malawi's Prince, 1992 Wild Pirate, 1993 Dallas Duo, 1994 Tivoli Man, 1995 Malawi Law, 1996 King Of Talent, 1997 Young Darren, 1998 Lansley Bale, 1999 Tom's Legacy, 2000 Puff Daddy,  2001 Carlisle Jack, 2002 Knockabout Wok, 2003 Puzzle Prize, 2004 Whisky Assassin and 2005 Magic Trance, 2006 Witch Magic, 2007 Go Wild Jack, 2008 Vee Man Vane and 2009 Dyna Lachlan, 2010 Greta Bale, 2011 Up and Away and 2012 Maverick Tiger and 2013 Ronin Izmir, 2014 Luca Neveelk, 2015 Shared Equity, 2016 Zambora Brockie, 2017 Aston Dee Bee, 2018 Aston Kimetto, 2019 Western Envoy, 2020 Yozo Bale.