“Unbelievable” was the fitting first word of a rapt Jason Grimson after he captured the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship, a second successive series triumph for the stable.
I Cast No Shadow rattled to the line, mowing down brilliant leader Act Now amid a 54-second last half, to emulate Boncel Benjamin’s stunning win last year and again gift Grimson Australasia’s most prized harness racing silverware, albeit this year without the controversy of a protest.
“I actually thought he would win,” the New South Wales trainer told TrotsVision. “I was confident.”
Grimson attributed the thrilling final burst in part to a gear change during the week, having for the first time since I Cast No Shadow joined the camp a year ago sent him out minus head gear. Reinsman Cam Hart said it appeared to make all the difference.
“(Jason’s) just such a great horseman, I’ve spent a few mornings here and there with him,” Hart said. “He’s just unbelievable. Even tonight he made a gear change to this horse, he’s worn pull down sliding blocks since he’s had him the whole time and he didn’t wear them tonight and he was so sharp on the way home.”
The race was book ended by thrills but with only modest movement in the middle. Spirit Of St Louis burst from the gates but Act Now was able to hold him on his outside while Honolua Bay elected not to engage.
I Cast No Shadow tagged on to the back of Act Now and, as expected, Expensive Ego was soon on his outside and that was how they settled until the sprint to the line.
A 26.4-second third quarter had them running and it seemed Act Now’s ID22, but I Cast No Shadow wore him down in the straight and then bolted clear, with Torrid Saint – who only gained a run Friday after Beyond Delight withdrew – also savaging the line to finish a close second and relegate Act Now to third.
“Unbelievable,” Grimson said. “When I first got him he had a few niggling problems. We did the right thing by the horse, tipping him out straight away. When he came back he got his confidence back, which was what he really needed.”
And he’s been outstanding for the stable, first capturing the Len Smith Mile and now, for long-time harness racing owner Dianne Reilly, an Inter Dominion championship.
“Words just can’t explain how I feel, I’m so happy,” Reilly said. “Just to get into the Inter Dominion, and I said if I ran between seventh and last I’d get $7500. I can relax now, I’ve won everything, there’s no more to prove. I’m so happy.”
Tim O’Connor
