Hart: More to come from I Cast No Shadow

The best is yet to come for Inter Dominion harness racing winner I Cast No Shadow (Shadow Play).

That’s the word from driver Cam Hart ahead of the gelding’s return to racing as a $2 favourite in Saturday night’s $75,000 Group 2 Shepparton Gold Cup (2690m).

It is I Cast N Shadow’s first run since he upset his rivals in the Inter Dominion final at Melton on December 10.

“He’s one of three horses Jason (Grimson, trainer) has in the race, but he told me he wanted me to drive him even before the barrier draw,” Hart said.

“He thinks the red horse (I Cast No Shadow) has gone to another level after his little break so that’s pretty exciting.”

Grimson’s other runners are multiple Group 1 winner Majestic Cruiser, who will be driven by Kate Gath from gate 11, and last week’s Cranbourne Cup runner-up Sicario (gate seven, David Moran).

“I love Majestic Cruiser, but now the draw is out and I Cast No Shadow has gate two, he’s definitely Jason’s best hope,” Hart said.

“I’ll get him right up on the gate and I’ll think he will lead those pretty easily. Once he’s in front, it’ll really be his race to lose.

“Jason’s always really liked the horse and it didn’t surprise us he won the Inter Dominion, but I know he thinks there is still improvement to come.”

Hart admits he is a bit torn at not driving Majestic Cruiser, who has given him Group 1 wins in NZ’s Messenger and the Blacks A Fake at Albion Park over the past 12 months.

He also drove him to second placings in the huge NZ Cup and NZ FFA double in Christchurch in November.

“It all caught up with him a bit and he wasn’t at his best during the Inter Dominion,” Hart said.

“He’s had a little break and I drove him in work the other day and he felt like the horse of old.

“Jason said he’s freshened-up really well, but seems to think whatever he does this week he’ll be better for and the Hunter Cup (February 4) is his main target.”

Grimson is looking to continue his dominance of Victoria’s major open-class races at Shepparton.

Since the I Cast No Shadow’s Inter Dominion win, Grimson’s recent stable addition Major Meister has brilliantly won the Cranbourne and Bendigo Cups.

It will present Hart with a good problem come Hunter Cup time with the option of Major Meister, I Cast No Shadow or Majestic Cruiser.

“I sounds strange when I Cast No Shadow has just won the Inter Dominion, but Major Meister is potentially the best of them,” Hart said.

“While I thought he felt great winning at Cranbourne, to overcome the check he copped at Bendigo and still win was pretty unbelievable really. I’m not sure any of the others could have done that.

“He’s now shown he’s versatile and he’s got so much high speed.”

The wildcard runner at Shepparton is David Aiken’s recent Kiwi import Cranbourne, who has firmed from $6 into $4.50 from gate four.

Cranbourne has been sold to the US, but will race in Victoria and then NSW before being flown to the US in March.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia