Taiba expects Captain Ravishing to lead in $250,000 feature

Owner Hass Taiba couldn’t be happier with barrier one for his harness racing superstar Captain Ravishing (Captaintreacherous) and has no doubts about him leading Saturday night’s Group 1 Chariots of Fire at Menangle.

The Emma Stewart-trained pacer is a red-hot $1.25 favourite to win the country’s premier event for four-year-olds, but there has been some discussion around whether or not the inside gate is actually beneficial for his chances.

Taiba is thrilled with the draw, however, and expects his charge to lead all the way in the $250,000 feature.

“I wouldn’t swap it for any other barrier,” Taiba said.

“I have no doubt that he will lead. No doubt at all.

“We haven’t really extended him off the gate and speaking to (driver) Mark Pitt, he has told me that when the time is right, they’ll see how quick he is out. The time is right now.

“Anything that beats him will win the race.”

All 10 horses in Saturday night’s race will start off the front line, with Captain Ravishing drawn inside key rivals such as Catch A Wave (seven), Republican Party (nine), Heza Son Of Agun (four) and Tims A Trooper (three).

Allan McDonough, a Stewart stable representative, was similarly confident of Captain Ravishing’s chances this weekend, declaring that “this horse is going to do something special on Saturday”.

The son of Captaintreacherous was today named as a starter in the inaugural $2.1million TAB Eureka, with passionate Geelong-based owner Danny Zavitsanos and his wife Joanna securing him for their “Team Zav” slot.

Pitt will wear the Zavitsanos blue, yellow and white silks this Saturday night in the Chariots of Fire, as well as the Miracle Mile if he happens to qualify for the $1million sprint on March 4.

Captain Ravishing was a brilliant first-up winner of the 4YO Bonanza at Melton on February 4, taking his career record to nine victories from 13 starts with more than $235,000 in prizemoney.

WATCH ALLAN MCDONOUGH SPEAK ABOUT CAPTAIN RAVISHING BELOW:

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria