Perfect runs provide Trainor with one of his best moments

Jack Trainor with the Len Smith Mile trophy. Photo by Club Menangle (Ashlea Brennan).

SATURDAY night’s New South Wales Breeders Challenge finals night proved to be one of the most successful for Menangle reinsman Jack Trainor since he arrived from New Zealand to settle in Sydney.

Trainor captured a Group 1 winning double, taking out the TAB Len Smith Mile with I Cast No Shadow and the final of the Breeders Challenge for three-year-old fillies with Captn Me.

Captn Me, a filly he trains himself, moved quietly through the qualifying rounds of the series, winning a heat at Penrith, before finishing second in her semi-final, securing her place in the Final.

Despite her consistency, the filly was unwanted in the betting, sent out as a $34 chance.

But the win came as no surprise to Trainor, as he took to the track believing she was well over the odds. 

“I went into the final with a bit of confidence and, to be honest, I was surprised by the odds she started at given her solid and consistent form,” said Trainor. 

“Admittedly we got the perfect trip in running on the back of Steno but when I got off the pegs she dug deep and got the job done. 

“She is a lovely filly that has done a super job for us and certainly deserved that win.”

Trainor’s other feature winner, I Cast No Shadow in the Len Smith Mile not only capped off a big night for him, but also for the six year old’s trainer Jason Grimson, who bagged a winning treble.

Like Captn Me, the race panned out perfectly for Trainor with I Cast No Shadow securing the run of the race, one-out and one-back off a hot tempo.

Trainor was able to sit patiently until the top of the lane before making his move with the entire, who finished strongly to overpower the leader and favourite Honolua Bay.

“To share a big feature win with Jason was awesome,” said Trainor.

“We work closely together, so it was extra satisfying. 

“I Cast No Shadow is very fast. 

“Jason has done a great job with him and I feel he is shaping as a serious Grand circuit horse.”    

Grimson’s other winners included Tay Tay, who scored a runaway win in the Breeders Challenge Final for mares with Cameron Hart aboard, while Ideal Escape took out the JC Caffyn Plate for Indigenous drivers with McKayler Barnes in the sulky.