Captain Ravishing Photo by Stuart McCormick
A PERTH raid is firmly on the radar for headline-grabbing pacer Captain Ravishing.
Trainer Ahmed Taiba said the $125,000 Group 2 4YO Classic on December 1 and the $200,000 Group 1 Golden Nugget (December 15) were "very likely" targets for the gifted young pacer.
"Hass (Taiba, owner) is very keen on Perth," Taiba said. "It would be for the two races as it's a chance to race against his own age."
A final decision will be made after Captain Ravishing tackles the $40,000 Breeders Crown 4YO final at Melton on November 18.
That now looms as Captain Ravishing's next start, rather than Saturday night's $50,000 4&5YO Championship at Melton.
"He missed a week of work when he had a temperature, and we scratched him from the Victoria Cup," Taiba said.
"He's almost right again, but when he goes to the races, I want him absolutely spot on."
"He'll either trial or have a really strong private workout this week."
Captain Ravishing has only raced once in the past eight months and that was for a terrific third in the world's richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.
But fans can expect to see a lot more of him in the coming months.
"He's in great condition. He's so much better than I had him going into the Eureka when we just had niggle after niggle," Taiba said.
"It's amazing he was able to run so well in the Eureka, and it gives us great confidence looking ahead with him."
"While it was disappointing missing the Victoria Cup, it might have been a blessing in disguise."
"There's not much big racing available for him over the next six months; we can pick and choose."
Captain Ravishing heading to Perth would be a coup for Gloucester Park officials, who already have high-class NSW four-year-old My Ultimate Ronnie heading across.
My Ultimate Ronnie capped his preparation with a stunning 19.8m win in the NSW Breeders Challenge 4YO final at Menangle yesterday.
Trained by Jarrod Alchin and driven by Cam Hart, My Ultimate Ronnie paced a 1min50.4sec mile, capped by blistering closing splits of 53.3 and 25.8sec.
Alchin will likely need a new driver for My Ultimate Ronnie in the 4YO Championship, with Hart having the opening round of Inter Dominion heats on December 1.
"He's booked to fly across on November 20," Alchin said.
"He won't race again, but I'll look for a trial here, and I'd like to work him between races the week before at Gloucester Park."
