Brilliant Victorian youngster Mr. Audacious caused a sensation in Monday night’s Group 2 CKH Painting Shepparton Cup heats, incredibly smashing the 450m track record at just his fifth start.

Trained by Rachael Busuttil at Kilmany, the aptly named Mr. Audacious was thrown in the deep end in the last of six Cup heats, having won three of his four starts, each of his victories coming at Traralgon.

Not two until April, the son of Beast Unleashed and Audacious Bell started $4.40 from Box 6 and showed blistering acceleration to burst to the front as he defeated $2 favourite Robbie Rotten in 24.655sec.

Mr. Audacious shaved a tenth of a second off the previous record of 24.75sec, set by country cups ‘king’ Ferdinand Boy in the 2021 Shepparton Cup final.

In running second, a length behind Mr. Audacious, G2 Warragul Cup winner Robbie Rotten also broke the previous benchmark.

Mr. Audacious showed signs of what was to come at his debut at Traralgon on January 29, when clocking 21.53sec, the equal quickest time recorded to date over 395m on the new ‘J-curve’ track, with dual country cups winner Typhoon Sammy.

Mr. Audacious was bred by Stephanie Tyler, with owner Kevin Wainwright having knocked back several offers for his newly crowned record holder.

Other highlights from Monday night’s heats included:

• Three-time country cups winner Ferdinand Boy will defend his Shepparton Cup crown after a scorching 24.82sec heat victory, the second fastest qualifying performance and just a length outside his previous record.
• 81-start veteran sprinter Dream Wizard produced the biggest upset when clocking a fast 24.88sec at $32, with the four-year-old qualifying for his fourth country cups decider.
• G1 Silver Chief runner-up Compliance was the other sub-25sec heat winner, posting 24.93sec for Karen Pitt, whose partner Wayne Vassallo won the 2015 Shepparton Cup with Azza Azza Azza.