Sugars to partner Captain Ravishing through Eureka campaign

Greg Sugars is only just getting back into the swing of things following his memorable trip to Sweden with Just Believe (Orlando Vici), but he’s already got another major race to look forward to in the coming months.

Sugars has been booked to drive the exciting Captain Ravishing (Captaintreacherous) through his TAB Eureka campaign, which is all geared towards the inaugural running of the $2.1million slot race at Menangle on September 2.

Captain Ravishing’s trainer Ahmed Taiba reached out to Sugars about the drive last week and the champion reinsman quickly accepted the offer to partner the boom four-year-old pacer.

“Ahmed rang me and basically just said the drive’s there if I want it,” Sugars said.

“As far as I know I’m booked to at least drive him in the Eureka and leading up to that, and we will see how it all unfolds.”

Sugars has a successful history with the Taiba family, famously piloting its superstar Sushi Sushi to many of his 27 wins through the early 2010s.

“Harness racing is in a pretty good spot at the moment,” Sugars said.

“Over the last six months or so, there’s been booms on horses and (questions around) who’s going to be the next big thing, and Captain Ravishing is one of them that we’ve spoken about.

“Obviously to get a drive on a horse that has been spoken about in that category is exciting.”

Captain Ravishing is set to step out for a private piece of work at Melton later this month as he heads towards a first-up run sometime in August.

He hasn’t been seen at the races since finishing down the track in March’s Miracle Mile, which followed a shock defeat by Catch A Wave in the Chariots of Fire a fortnight earlier.

Captain Ravishing was trained by Emma Stewart during that campaign, but is now back in the care of Taiba who handled him through the early part of his career.

The TAB has the horse as a $5 third elect to win the Eureka behind $2.20 favourite Leap To Fame and Catch A Wave, who is a $3.50 chance.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria