Crossword Genius

How sad it can be for those hoping one day to rule (6,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

shadow cabinet

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'those hoping one day to rule' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'how sad it can be' is the wordplay.
'how' becomes 'shadow' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'sad' is an anagram indicator.
'it'+'can'+'be'='itcanbe'
'itcanbe' is an anagram of 'cabinet'.
'shadow'+'cabinet'='SHADOW CABINET'

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for shadow cabinet that I've seen before include "Opposition's leaders" , "Opposition frontbenchers" , "leading members of the opposition" , "MPs of ministerial rank in Opposition" , "Policy-making group of opposition party" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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