Ravishing news for Team Zav
AUSTRALIA’S most exciting pacer Captain Ravishing has been snapped-up for a slot in the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka.
Passionate Geelong-based owner Danny Zavitsanos and his wife Joanna have signed a deal with Captain Ravishing’s owner Hass Taiba for the four-year-old to race in their slot.
It ended weeks of speculation and Taiba said he had been swamped with offers from slot holders.
“It’s been frantic and humbling, to be honest,” Taiba said. “This horse certainly captured everyone’s attention.
“But I couldn’t think of any one better than Danny to partner with. His passion for the sport and doing everything he can to promote its future is amazing.
“It’s great to get a deal done nice and early so it’s out of the way and we can focus on the races he’s got between now and the Eureka.”
The next of those will be Australasia’s biggest four-year-old race, the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle on Saturday night.
Then follows Captain Ravishing’s biggest challenge yet, the $1 million Miracle Mile at the same track on March 4.
“After that, it’s all about the Eureka,” Taiba said. “We’re in such a great spot to have this horse at the prime of his career when the world’s richest race is run here for the first time.”
The TAB Eureka is restricted to three and four-year-old pacers only and they must have been bred in Australia.
Zavitsanos said he was thrilled to lock-in the Captain Ravishing deal.
“Jo and I feel privileged to have him racing for Team Zav,” he said. “We’re still pinching ourselves a bit to be honest because he’s the horse every slot holder would want.
Latest markets have Captain Ravishing $3 favourite for the TAB Eureka on September 2.