Sport

Shepparton Gold Cup preview: Locals set to take the fight to Inter Dominion champ

By Gus Underwood

Jan 12, 2023

Find out the leading hopes: Check out the Shepparton Gold Cup preview. Photo by Megan Fisher

A suitable draw has made recent Inter Dominion winner I Cast No Shadow the pacer to beat in tomorrow night’s Shepparton Gold Cup.

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The Jason Grimson-trained I Cast No Shadow won the $500,000 Inter final by stalking the pacemaker Act Now and securing a sprint lane run.

With barrier two in the $75,000 feature tomorrow night his driver Cameron Hart will again have options at the start of the testing 2690m trip.

The six-year-old chestnut Shadow Play gelding has not started since the Inter Dominion final on December 10, so will be fresh for the challenge.

Grimson also has other serious chances in Majestic Cruiser and Sicario, second in the Bendigo Cup in his first run for the new stable, but both will need luck from tough draws.

Bendigo trainer Julie Douglas has four runners in the race including the old warhorse Bernie Winkle, a winner of 61 races, who comes from gate three, but will be one of the outsiders.

The David Aiken-trained Max Delight could get into a prominent position early if the polemarker Art Tutor, who finished stoutly for seventh in the Bendigo Cup, beaten less than 10m, can hold the front from barrier one and would be a strong chance if that scenario unfolded

Aiken has another interesting runner in Cranbourne who makes his Australian debut in the race and has won over the trip in New Zealand.

He has drawn to be up near or on the pace from barrier four.

Cranbourne is on his way to America, but will take in some feature races in Australia before heading for the American summer.

Aiken said he liked Cranbourne, who trialled well recently at Shepparton and expects him to run a forward race even though he’s “still working him out”.

‘‘I’ve only had him a short time, so I’m still learning a bit about him,’’ Aiken said.

Hopes of a home town win in the cup rest with Inter Dominion winning owner Steve Duffy who lines up the talented Serg Blanco who will be driven by his son Ryan.

In nine starts in Australia the former Kiwi has been a model of consistency with two wins and five placings.

He showed with his runner-up performance behind Curly James in last Sunday’s Cobram Pacing Cup he has claims although drawn wide off the front row.

While there are no superstars in the race it is packed full of chances which should make for an epic struggle.

Another of the interesting races on the eight-event card is the Barastoc Pace in which the Andy Gath-trained Outlaw Man shoots four on the trot and the talented Craig Turnbull-prepared National News returns to racing, seeking to complete a hat-trick of wins.