New driver set to take charge of the Captain

Ahmed Taiba says he will look to secure a New South Wales-based harness racing reinsman for Captain Ravishing’s (Captaintreacherous) tilt at the $2.1million TAB Eureka in September.

And at the top of the trainer’s list is Jack Trainor, with Cam Hart and Jack Callaghan also well and truly in the conversation for the prized steer on the race’s $4.50 third favourite.

Mark Pitt partnered Captain Ravishing for his 10 starts with former trainer Emma Stewart, but is unlikely to continue his association with the horse in 2023 as connections look elsewhere for a driver.

“With the Eureka being our grand final, we definitely want to invest in a Sydney driver,” Taiba said.

Taiba has officially taken over as head trainer of the boom pacer after he rose to prominence under the care of Stewart through season 2022.

He won seven races for the stable – including the Group 1 Breeders Crown Series 3YO Colts and Geldings Final in track record time at Melton – before finishing second in February’s Chariots of Fire and seventh in March’s Miracle Mile.

He’s now in the care of Taiba at the Sunbury property where he started his career.

Taiba said a trial and potential start here in Victoria was on the radar for Captain Ravishing before he would be taken to Menangle for one or two runs there ahead of the TAB Eureka at the same track on September 2.

The son of Captaintreacherous is a winner of nine of his 15 starts, but is yet to triumph in four attempts at New South Wales’ premier track.

“(Owner and brother) Hass (Taiba) is pretty keen on getting him back on the Menangle circuit prior to the Eureka,” Ahmed said.

“Hass wants to be completely satisfied that he can get (around) Menangle and tick that one off.

“He had six weeks at Sloys agistment in Sydney prior to coming down and he’s been home for a few weeks now.

“We’ve had Andrew Argyle in Sydney and the best vets in Australia here down in Werribee and things like that go over him, just to be satisfied he’s where he’s at, healthy and sound…”

Taiba said he would be taking his time with Captain Ravishing in a bid to have him at his best for the TAB Eureka in four months’ time.

“It’s a bit like boiling a kettle, we don’t want to boil that kettle and run out of water,” he said.

“He had that full six weeks, he had another week back home and we are just starting him right from scratch again really.

“We are just going to bring him up nice and slowly. We’ve got a plan that we are going to go full steam ahead at, tackle that race and throw everything at it.”

Captain Ravishing will run for Team Zav in the TAB Eureka, with the slot owned by Danny and Joanna Zavitsanos.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria