KEY POINTS:
Kiwi trainer Tim Butt was left as stunned as punters after producing Mr Feelgood to win the Shepparton Cup in a performance that could change the landscape of the grand circuit.
The former outstanding North American pacer overcame a 30m handicap to blast past New Zealand Cup winner Changeover in Saturday night's A$50,000 race in Victoria, turning around his form after an ordinary Australian debut a week earlier.
Mr Feelgood, bought for huge money last year to contest the major Australian races before embarking on a stud career Downunder, was abandoned by punters and Butt says he doesn't blame them.
"We didn't really think he could win and he was mainly in the race to get his standing start ticket for the Hunter Cup in a few weeks," said Butt.
"I would have been happy to see him running on through the middle for sixth so this is a real bonus."
The win confirmed Mr Feelgood as the best US horse to come to Australasia for many years, as his record would suggest.
"He was a very good horse up there, after all he won the Little Brown Jug," said Butt.
"And we knew he would improve on his first run but we didn't know how much.
"But I think there is a lot more improvement in him."
That should worry rival trainers as Mr Feelgood has already given some of Australia's best pacers a start and a beating and he also has the advantage of blazing gate speed to add to his arsenal for the Interdominions in March.
He will head to that series instead of coming to Auckland for the Auckland Cup, on March 6, for which he also holds an entry.
His shock win on Saturday - at $42 on the tote - saw Mr Feelgood promoted to favourite for the Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on February 7 while he is now second favourite for the Interdominion Final on March 28.
I Am Sam, who enjoyed the run of the race at Shepparton, also shortened in Hunter Cup betting but Changeover has been a drifter.
He was given every chance by usual reinsman David Butcher but only battled into fourth, suggesting he is still not back to his New Zealand Cup-winning form.
