FOR a moment I thought I was watching Ride High.

A couple of months ago, while asking Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin for the latest on Ladies In Red, they both told me about a three-year-old they had who would be a “huge Victoria Derby player".

His name was Captain Ravishing and, as usual, they were right.

That Downbytheseaside Victoria Derby heat win last Saturday was mesmerizing. It ranked up with the greatest performances I’ve seen since Melton took over from Moonee Valley as Victoria’s home of harness.

Lochinvar Art’s 1:48.6 win over 1720m in the 2020 4YO Bonanza – thrashing Kiwi superstar Self Assured – was my standout “wow” moment.

Captain Ravishing’s win was in that league.

Sure, you can argue the overall time was slow, but it was the closing splits and how much Captain Ravishing did wrong and still found a way to win that blew me (and many others) away.

How can you do that? How can you gawk-around so many times, run about under pressure a few key times and still run your own last 800m in 53.2 seconds?

Oh, and gun-down a proven superstar there-year-old in Leap To Fame, already a winner of the NSW and Queensland Derbys.

Back to what I said at the start, I thought I was watching Ride High.

He’s not as big or imposing, but Captain Ravishing just may have as much sheer talent as Ride High.

But that doesn’t mean this Derby is his on a platter.

Leap To Fame can and will improve from the heat run. He’s been sparingly raced, needed the run, had his share of travel issues getting down and is a proven greater stayer and big race performer.

I love Leap To Fame, but he’s now got to lift to Captain Ravishing’s level to turn the tables.

Tonight’s barrier draw will be vitally important for the betting and probably the result.

On what we saw in the heats, Captain Ravishing will be unbeatable if he draws better (or to find the front) than Leap To Fame.

While Major Perry is a lovely horse and won the first heat, I think Ripp is the only runner from that heap capable of upsetting in the final.

His run was massive, albeit coming off a hot pace, from a mile back and out wide. It’s great for Bernie Hewitt and the team to see him back on song.

CAN that man Jason Grimson do it again?

And can Catch A Wave sneak into the Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Cup field?

Those two posers have taken this Victoria Cup build-up to another level just when it needed it.

Let's start with Catch A Wave. It's easy to dismiss him on his tiring Victoria Derby heat seventh and the fact his two Group 1 wins have come against 2YO and 3YO opposition.

Against that, he would bring X-factor, especially if he drew well with that dazzling gate speed of his.

It's no secret trainer Andy Gath wants to run, but even he doesn't know how the HRV selectors will assess potentially the best horse he's ever trained.

"I don't know if he'll get a run or not, but I know he'd add a lot of interest to the race and be a winning chance if he drew well," he said.

And what about I Cast No Shadow and the undeniably enticing "Grimson factor".

The former Riverina horseman is desperate for a spot in the Victoria Cup with I Cast Now Shadow and thinks he can win the race.

Scoff at your own risk when you consider Grimson’s record – almost exclusively with outsiders – in major races over the past 12 months.

The Menangle-based trainer has won the Inter Dominion final, Group 1 Messenger in Auckland and Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park all with longshots when he’s been given very little hope by most experts.

Grimson went to Menangle last Saturday night with his eyes on the Victoria Cup and wanting to make a statement.

He did just that.

I Cast No Shadow worked to the front, scooted away to win by almost 10m, clocked a slick 1:50.5 mile and ripped home in 53.8 and 26.4 seconds.

(Picture courtesy of Club Menangle)

It revives memories of the 2020 Hunter Cup when the then emerging King Of Swing became a hot topic of debate as to whether he should get into the race. He was the first emergency, got a run through a scratching and won.

The brilliance of I Cast No Shadow’s win and Grimson’s imposing feature-race strike rate should see him make the Cup field.

And who’s to doubt Grimson when he says he can win it?

The field for the Cup is out today and don’t forget the live barrier draws for the Cup, Derby and Oaks – hosted by Ryan Phelan – on TrotsVision from 7pm tonight.

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.