Captain Ravishing Photo by Stuart McCormick
THE "real" Captain Ravishing is back and primed for Saturday night's Group 1 Victoria Cup.
Trainer Ahmed Taiba insists the four-year-old is "miles better" now than he was going into his last start, third placing in the world's richest harness race, the TAB Eureka, at Menangle on September 2.
Captain Ravishing returns to Melton, where his last two starts at Group 1 and Group 2 have resulted in rampaging wins by an aggregate of 50.6 metres.
"I'm just so excited to have him back to his best and primed for a race," Taiba said. "I didn't say too much going into the Eureka, but he was so underdone. We nearly didn't run him. He only had three proper workouts in the lead-up."
"For him to come out and run third there and not far behind Leap To Fame was freakish."
"The run gives me so much confidence going ahead. To think he could do that, yet I know how much improvement he's got on that run."
"I'm excited about this week, but I won't lie, I am really disappointed he didn't draw the front line because I think he would've led from anywhere and been the horse to beat."
"Now (from the back row, gate 10), we're going to need the race run to suit and some luck getting into the action."
"Things are sort of out of our hands in many ways. But I do know he's ready to win if he gets the right run."
Taiba was further buoyed by the report from new driver Nathan Jack after a Melton trial to sharpen up last Monday night.
"It was the second time Nathan had driven him, and both times he's come back raving about his speed," he said.
"The other night, he said the horse had speed like Im Themightyquinn (a triple Inter Dominion winner), and that's pretty amazing to hear."
Captain Ravishing's preparation is certainly radical, given the Victoria Cup will only be his second start in seven months, and it is six weeks since he ran third in the Eureka.
"I'm not worried about that. I know how much better I've got him now than at the Eureka time," Taiba said.
Jack is thrilled to land the Captain Ravishing drive in his quest to win the Victoria Cup for the first time but concedes the back row draw was a setback.
"He's got the speed and the ability to win it, but we're relying on how the race is run to a large extent now," he said.
"These 2240m at Melton, especially at the top level, are all about how hard they go early … what lead time they run."
"I need Rock N Roll Doo to drive through early, Leap To Fame to push forward hard and even Catch A Wave to come out charging as well. They need to be running a near record lead time for my horse and the others out back to get into it."
Captain Ravishing has eased from $9 to $14 since Tuesday's barrier draw, while pole-marker Better Eclipse ($9 to $6) has been the big firmer.
Queensland sensation Leap To Fame is chasing his first Grand Circuit win and is an easing $1.90 to $2 favourite.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
