Greg looking at the positives after Menangle trial

Greg Sugars isn’t as downcast on Captain Ravishing’s harness racing performance in yesterday’s Menangle trial as some others might be and remains ready to drive the horse in Saturday week’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka.

Sugars made the fleeting trip interstate to partner the Ahmed Taiba-trained pacer in his first official racetrack appearance since March’s Miracle Mile, but he could only manage sixth – beaten more than 20m – behind the Brad Hewitt-trained Taipo.

He began slow and settled back in the field, and made a mid-trial move but faded late to beat just two rivals home.

Sugars felt the addition of a Murphy Blind to the horse’s gear had a negative impact on his attitude and believed it would be best if he raced in an open bridle in the TAB Eureka.

“The mid-trial burst felt good, but his run came to an end about 100m out,” Sugars said.

Sugars said the trial might have been vital for Captain Ravishing and hoped the horse could thrive off the serious piece of work.

Taiba will give Captain Ravishing another searching hit-out on Saturday before a decision is made on whether or not he will start in the world’s richest harness race a week later.

“It’s disappointing and anything but ideal,” Taiba told News Corp’s Adam Hamilton. “He’s never done that before, but all I can put it down to is that he felt too fresh after six months away from the races.

“It’s not the trial we went there to have. If there’s any positive to come out of it, he was clocked to run his last half in 53.7sec.”

Captain Ravishing has drifted to $17 for the TAB Eureka following the trial.

If the horse is withdrawn from the race, slot holders Danny and Jo Zavitsanos will be able to pick a replacement runner from emergencies Don Hugo, Naturally Gifted, Heza Son Of Agun and Tims A Trooper.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria