Pitt gets the call-up for Captain Ravishing

Mark Pitt will return to the harness racing sulky of Captain Ravishing (Captaintreacherous) as Ahmed Taiba looks to unlock the key to his star pacer’s greatness.

Pitt will have his first drive of the high-profile pacer since running seventh in March’s Miracle Mile behind Catch A Wave, who reopposes in Saturday night’s Hygain Breeders Crown Championship for four-year-old entires and geldings.

Taiba admitted he was disappointed with the Group 1 winner’s effort in last week’s Yarra Valley Pacing Cup, but believes he was underdone and can improve second-up into his “mini grand final” at Melton.

“He’s pulled up a treat, he’s trained on, he’s eaten like a demon,” the Sunbury trainer said.

“I think I’ve got him more forward than the Eureka, so that’s why I wanted to see what Pitty said.

“It’s not a tactical decision, it’s just more that he knows the horse and he didn’t drive him trying to look pretty. He drove him the way the horse needed to be driven and that’s what I’m after. I want to see where I’m at with him.”

While Catch A Wave has gate one, Taiba suggested he’d be keen for Pitt to press forward with Captain Ravishing from six, with the two horses dominating market percentage as $1.18 and $3.40 chances respectively.

Pitt drove the son of Captaintreacherous to all his big wins while he was trained by Emma Stewart, including his Group 1 victory in the Breeders Crown Series Final during November last year when he smashed the Melton 2240m track record.

Greg Sugars then jumped aboard for his third placing in the TAB Eureka and Nathan Jack was at the controls during last week’s Yarra Valley Pacing Cup when he found the front but faded for second behind Serg Blanco.

The 29-year-old Pitt is excited to be getting back behind a horse that he regards as one of the best he’s ever driven.

“These are the opportunities that you’ve really got to cherish,” he said.

“I’ve driven some pretty good ones like Ride High and a few of the good mares, but he sits up there pretty high.”

The clash between Captain Ravishing and Catch A Wave is one of the big highlights on Saturday night, with the Melton card also featuring semi-finals of the two-year-old and three-year-old TAB Breeders Crown Series.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria