Second-stringer takes out $100,000 Len Smith Mile

Jason Grimson has made a habit of winning big harness racing races in the past 12 months.

And he was in the thick of it again tonight when stable ‘second stringer’ I Cast No Shadow (Shadow Play) scored a stunning win in tonight’s $100,000 TAB Len Smith Mile at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

And gun reinsman Jack Trainor who steered I Cast No Shadow to a neck win over the favourite Honolua Bay (Amanda Turnbull) with Zeuss Bromac (Gavin Fitzpatrick) a late-closing third in 1:48.8.

It was no place for the faint-hearted as the winner was just three-tenths of a second off Smoken Up’s race record.

And Trainor was quick to give Grimson the plaudits:

Been saying to me all week that he had this horse spot-on,” said Trainor.

“I did say I wanted to see how he handled horses of this class before I was convinced.

“But I have to say Jason has done a massive job to get him where he is.”

I CAST NO SHADOW REPLAY

Trainor explained that the horse’s owner Dianne Reilly put a lot of time and money into harness racing and deserved this success.

“She loves this horse and she’ll no doubt be planning some sort of party so we can celebrate.

“Maybe she’ll fly us up to the Gold Coast or something . . . so start planning the celebrations Di.”

In fact, Trainor was selling himself short. He had I Cast No Shadow perfectly poised with a one-one trail throughout the race and it was the drive that also won the race as he rounded them up in the straight for a narrow but convincing victory over the plucky Victorian Honolua Bay.

It did flash through my mind that I should have jumped onto the pegs when I had the chance but I soon lost that opportunity,” said Trainor.

“Peter McMullen and Blacksadance turned it into a staying test and thankfully my bloke was up for the challenge.”

For complete race results, click here.

From Club Menangle