Ruling Favourite Scratched From Ballarat Cup

STAR prospect Mr. Audacious is a shock scratching from Friday night's Group 2 Ballarat Cup Final (450m).

Trainers Rachael and Mark Busutill made the heart wrenching call to withdraw their fastest qualifier from the showpiece event on Thursday morning after the superstar in the making pulled up lame following a track gallop earlier this week.

"He pulled an outside toenail completely out in a free gallop so we made the call this morning to withdraw him," a despondent Rachael Busutill said.

"We had him at the vets on Tuesday and there was a slight hope he'd be okay to go around but this morning he's still limping and on three legs so there was only one decision to make.

"He's far too good to take any risks with, especially in this kind of class. We are shattered but we'll look forward now and just make sure we get him back to 100 percent."

Mr. Audacious, a son of Beast Unleashed, rocketed to Ballarat Cup favouritism with a sizzling 24.79 heat victory that extended his glowing record to five wins from seven starts.

His scratching from the $50,000-to-the-winner final will see rank outsider Perfect Colour gain a start in the race from box four.