Aussie star a shock New Zealand Cup nomination

New Zealand harness racing’s biggest race just got a whole lot more interesting with the revelation connections of Australia’s excitement machine, Captain Ravishing (Captaintreacherous) were keen to make a late nomination for the second Tuesday in November.

The phone call came this afternoon, mere hours before B D Joe booked his ticket to the big dance with an exhilarating fresh-up performance in the Avon City Ford Cup. Brian Rabbit of Addington Raceway was understandably excited, but so too was his owner, Hass Taiba.

“The team at Addington were all quite stoked about it and it’s good for racing, isn’t it,” said Taiba talking with Harnesslink this evening.

“You want to showcase the best horses on the best days, and that’s what it’s all about. It gets people talking and brings crowds and excitement to these carnival-type days.

“There is a lot of water to go under the bridge but I think we have a horse who warrants the opportunity to get over there and compete and we think we can do it, so why not,” he said.

The trials and tribulations of getting the one-time Miracle Mile and Eureka favourite fit and ready to take his slot in the world’s richest harness race were well documented.

Captain Ravishing hadn’t had an official race since the Miracle Mile in March and despite a few public exhibitions in the weeks leading up to September 2^nd, it was far from smooth sailing for connections.

While there was no denying the talent, nor the motor under the hood of Captain Ravishing, his effort to run third in a 1:51.8 mile rate fresh up was a hell of a performance for a pacer having his first run in six months.

EUREKA REPLAY

“For a race like that, we would have loved to have gotten another run under his belt, but extremely proud of how he performed on such a big stage. It was unbelievable to be quite honest. We were behind the eight ball all the way through but his last week at home was just outstanding. Ahmed said he was really on song and it was great to see him put in a performance like that and reward the faith we, Danny and Jo had in him all along,” said Taiba.

“He had some issues with his foot and it took forever to firstly isolate the issue and then get it right. We took him to a couple of clinics to find out why he was so sore, but he just had some really deep bruising which put us behind in his preparation. As we got on top of that he knocked his joints a little bit which put us another couple of weeks back.

“It was only in the last week or so that we could get enough work into him with workouts but we were absolutely wrapped with his Eureka run. I think if you have a look at the sectionals he went his first quarter in close to 25 seconds in finding the top.

“When they started quickening at the top of the straight, he was held up at a crucial stage and they probably got away from us a wee bit. I’m not saying we would have won the Eureka but his conditioning probably blew out the last 50m which he was entitled to to be fair,” he said.

Given the soundness issues that eventuated in the lead-up to the Eureka, the Taiba brothers were delighted to see how their star pacer had come through the run.

The four-year-old entire was bright and looking a million dollars when the pair had a frank discussion about plotting a possible pathway for the rest of the 2023 campaign. Never one to do anything by halves, Taiba’s interest in the two-mile staying test at Addington invariably came to the surface.

“When we tried putting him out in the paddock on Sunday after the race he was so full of himself that me and Ahmed had a conversation about some of the aspirations going forward. There have been two huge races in my lifetime which are the Melbourne Cup and the New Zealand Cup I’ve always rated the New Zealand Cup ahead of it to be quite honest.

“It’s always been a dream to have a runner in the race and having spoken with Ahmed, we are both keen to see how he comes through the likes of the Victoria Cup. All going well, we would love to get over there and give it a go.

“Obviously there is a lot of water to go under the bridge and he will have to improve a bit more no doubt, but again, that was his first official race for some time and we would like to think he will take a lot of benefit from it. Greg got off him on Saturday and said he feels like a brand new horse which is quite remarkable given he got off him a week earlier and said we have got a bit of a battle ahead of us.

“After the race, he was absolutely wrapped. He’s a great little horse and the next preparation will really show what he is capable of. To be quite honest with you, we think it will be onwards and upwards from here with a bit of luck,” he said.

It’s impossible not to admire the passion and excitement in Taiba’s voice when he discusses his pride and joy. Horses like Captain Ravishing don’t come around too often and it’s clear he is relishing the opportunity to see the horse back to his best on the big stage.

The task before him and his rising star is not foreign having seen his former star pacer, Sushi Sushi (Art Major) go within a length and a half of winning the New Zealand Cup back in 2012 when beaten by Terror To Love and Highview Tommy.

Under the tutelage of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rassmussen, the Great Northern Derby winner won a Kaikoura Cup on the way to his third place finish in the two mile test.

A decade later, Taiba finds himself with another horse capable of competing with the best in Australasia and isn’t afraid of taking on all-comers with his once-in-a-lifetime prospect.

“I’ll be honest with you, there is a lot of pressure racing a horse like this and it’s almost easier having one in work who doesn’t have his brilliance. You’re always worried about how he’s doing, but it’s great fun and we wouldn’t swap it for anything, It’s what you in the sport for to race a good one and enjoy the rollercoaster ride. But when it comes together like it has, it’s great fun to be a part of.

“Clayton and Emma did a super job with him last year and we’re really grateful to them for helping to mould him into the athlete he is. But it’s been really special having Ahmed prepare the horse and I get a real kick out of it knowing he has the fire in the belly to do it again. So why not, let’s have some fun,” he said.

Captain Ravishing has been instilled a $21 chance with New Zealand bookmakers this afternoon after the nomination was received by Addington Raceway officials.

The late nomination cannot be made official until processed by Harness Racing New Zealand, in which case Captain Ravishing’s rating will be assessed confirming his ranking and eligibility status.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink