Who can stop Grimson? Aiken to take a shot in Shepp Cup

Reigning Inter Dominion champion I Cast No Shadow heads a formidable three-pronged assault on the Group 2 Neatline Homes Shepparton Gold Cup for the Jason Grimson stable.

I Cast No Shadow, who will be facing the starter for the first time since providing Grimson with his second consecutive ID Grand Final victory at Melton a month ago, has been installed a $1.90 favorite after drawing barrier two.

Stablemates Sicario and Majestic Cruiser haven’t fared nearly as well behind the mobile barrier.

Sicario, who finished a gallant runner-up behind Major Meister in last week’s Bendigo Pacing Cup, has been allocated an outside front row alley, while New Zealand Cup second place-getter Majestic Cruiser has to contend with the extreme draw on the second row.

One trainer looking to put a halt to the Grimson juggernaut is Avenel horseman David Aiken. The 63-year-old will throw the harness over his multiple Group 1 winner Max Delight along with stable newcomer Cranbourne, who arrived recently from New Zealand.

Aiken was delighted with Max Delight’s placing behind Major Meister and Sicario at Bendigo.

“He was a bit stiff at Bendigo as he got held up at vital stage nearing the home turn and he hit the line really well,” Aiken said.

“Chris (Alford) said he felt as good as has for a long time.”

Aiken concedes the early stages of the race could determine the chances of Max Delight, who will line-up inside the second row.

“I don’t think the pole horse gets out all that quick, but I will leave it up to Chris,” he said.

The acquisition of Cranbourne stems all the way back to Aiken’s ties with Ultra Jet, who finished runner-up in the 1994 Inter Dominion Final at Harold Park.

“Cranbourne was sent over by Steve Finkelstein who owned Ultra Jet and he is on his way to the US,” he said.

“He was pretty laid back in his trial at Shepparton last week and he will improve on whatever he does on Saturday night.”

Aiken intends to campaign Cranbourne in upcoming feature races prior to leaving for the States in March.

“He showed during Cup week in New Zealand that he is up to taking on the better horses here and I’ll probably take him to Sydney before he goes,” he said.