Big decision looming as Captain Ravishing is set for Vic Cup

Trainer Ahmed Taiba is bullish about the chances of Captain Ravishing (Captaintreacherous) in next month’s Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup, but has a key decision to make in regards to how he gets the harness racing horse to the Grand Circuit classic.

Connections have decided to press on with the four-year-old’s campaign following his third placing in the inaugural TAB Eureka, adding yet another name to what is a mouthwatering list of pacers being sent towards the $300,000 Group 1 feature.

That list includes the likes of defending champion Rock N Roll Doo, superstar Queenslander Leap To Fame, Chariots of Fire and Miracle Mile victor Catch A Wave and Eureka winner Encipher.

“We gave him a week off in Sydney, and speaking to (brother and owner) Hass (Taiba) and looking at the calendar, the Vic Cup is there staring in our face,” Ahmed told thetrots.com.au.

“It’s there in Melbourne, we’ve got the farm in Melbourne, we’re not going to the Inter Dominion…

“The Miracle Mile would be the deadest pinnacle – which is in March next year – so we thought even if we go for a Victoria Cup, we can still set up for a Miracle Mile.”

And while he’s confident the horse is currently well placed to gain a start in the Victoria Cup – a field picked manually by Harness Racing Victoria handicappers – Taiba is wary of what defeat in a lead-up race might mean for Captain Ravishing’s chances of selection.

While he’s been brilliant for most of his career and won nine races from 16 starts for more than $500,000 in prizemoney, the son of Captaintreacherous has competed just once in free-for-all grade. That was in this year’s Miracle Mile, where he finished seventh behind Catch A Wave.

“As we speak, I’d love to give him a run before the Victoria Cup,” he said.

“The Smoken Up Sprint (October 7) is the only obvious race that sticks out on the calendar that suits my program, but I don’t want it to be detrimental to him earning a spot in the Victoria Cup if the race didn’t present or the barrier draw didn’t unfold to the way we want.”

If Captain Ravishing does reach the Victoria Cup on October 14, can he win?

“No question about it,” Taiba responded.

“I’m really keen on showcasing the real Captain Ravishing and the Victoria Cup is going to be massive.

“His main challenges are behind us – his main hurdles – we’ve climbed Mt Everest to perform in the Eureka. And, honestly, the best way to describe it is that it’s all downhill from now.”

by Tim O’Connor for Harness Racing Victoria