Isabel Walsh will be hoping that I Cast No Shadow (Shadow Play) can start life in her care on the right foot and begin to reclaim some of that harness racing form that saw him win the 2022 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final.
![Small steps for a giant leap for I Cast No Shadow 1](https://harnesslink.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/I-Cast-No-Shadow2.jpg)
Walsh has recently taken over training duties from Queensland horseman Darrel Graham and the horse will run first-up for her in Thursdayās Beraldo Coffee Pace at Melton.
āWe just got him down from Queensland eight weeks ago and gave him a bit of a spell,ā Walsh said. āHe has come along alright. He had a trial last week, it was a soft trial but he came along alright, and itās just a starting point to see if he can find some of his old form back.ā
The eight-year-oldās last run on Victorian soil was in the 2023 Hunter Cup when the son of Ragazza Bromac finished second to the Emma Stewart-prepared Honolua Bay.
Whether or not the winner of over $700,000 can reclaim his previous form is the main concern for Walsh ahead of his first run for the stable.
āThatās the big question (if he can return to form),ā she said.ā Thursday is just a stepping stone to coming back.
āWe have put a lot of time into him. He won his trial last week and he went well on the clock. Itās been a process to get him back and he needs to find form again, (but) so far everyone has been happy with him.ā
The pacer has drawn gate six, sitting sandwiched between the two Julie Douglas runners in Kosimo (five) and Ideal Escape (seven).
āHe is in a good grade and there is no such thing as soft grade when you are in that sort of grade,ā Walsh said.
David Moran is set to pilot I Cast No Shadow in the $12,000 event.
āWhatever happens at the start will be totally up to David. I put my faith in him so we will see what happens,ā Walsh said.
āHe is the man who has got to make the decision when the gate rolls forward.
āDavid knows the horse well and he drove him at the trials, so he will know what to do.ā
Emma Stewart-trained Like A Wildfire is the current $2.25 favourite for his first start since late November, while I Cast No Shadow is an $8 chance with the TAB.
For complete race entries,Ā click here.
byĀ Lachlan Mitchell,Ā for Harness Racing Victoria