No Eureka moment for pacing stars in low key hit out

By Adam Hamilton

The stars came out to play at Geelong in Victoria last night, but there were no fireworks.

Young pacing stars Catch A Wave and Captain Ravishing headlined a heavily promoted night at Geelong, run by the locally based New Zealand Cup winning owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos.

They didn’t work together as planned with Captain Ravishing having a solo hit out between races three and four.

You could be forgiven for expecting a lot more with the $2.1mil TAB Eureka just a month away as Captain Ravishing worked over 2400m, with a cosy 1min59.6sec last mile, home in 56.9 and 28.6sec.

“That’s all we wanted to do tonight, we can get more serious from here,” trainer Ahmed Taiba said. “We might look to work him between races again at Melton next Saturday night.

“Then, all going well, he’ll head to Sydney for two trials there ahead of the Eureka.”

Taiba reaffirmed the plan to go first-up from a six-month spell in the TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.

Catch A Wave was asked to do a lot more, without smashing the clock, in a workout with proven Grand Circuit performer Mach Dan.

They worked over 2100m and steadily increased the tempo from the mile, which they ran in 1min55.4sec. All the heat was in the last half of 55 flat 27sec as Catch A Wave came off Mach Dan’s back and shaded him late.

“That’s exactly what we were looking for,” trainer Andy Gath said. “It was a solid hit out and should bring him on again.

“He had a decent blow after he was beaten first-up, but he came through well tonight.”

Gath confirmed Catch A Wave would race next in a 2240m free-for-all at Melton on August 19.

“We haven’t ruled out running him again the week after at Melton, too,” Gath said.

“We’ll see how he runs and how he comes through that race on the 19th and decide if he needs another run before the Eureka.”

Catch A Wave eased to $4 for the Eureka after his first-up defeat, but is back into $3.50. Leap To Fame remains a $2.25 favourite.

Captain Ravishing has eased from $5 to $8 in recent weeks.

Gun three-year-old The Lost Storm, who will race at Ballarat next Friday night, is into $6 third favourite after his powerhouse Queensland Derby win on July 22.