It seems as though much of the discussion about this year’s Chariots of Fire has been about not who will win New South Wales’ great four-year-old showdown, but whether or not any of Captain Ravishing’s rivals can make it difficult for him by crossing the megastar pacer at the start.
It’s generally accepted in harness racing that barrier one is the most favourable starting position of them all, so you’d have thought when Emma Stewart’s speed machine came up with the ace alley all intrigue would have been sapped from the Group 1 affair.
But that’s been far from the case, with some suggesting the sport’s latest pin-up horse is vulnerable in the formative steps of the 1609m encounter.
Fellow Victorians Catch A Wave and Heza Son Of Agun look possible early challengers to the $1.22 favourite, as does Belinda McCarthy-trained Cantfindabettorman, but will a daring - and potentially damaging - early burn even be attempted let alone successful?
Captain Ravishing has set tongues wagging with his exploits in recent months, smashing records and breaking opponents’ hearts as he solidifies himself as the most exciting pacer in the land.
But while he’s shown lethal speed at the end of his races, he hasn’t been hunted out from the gate in recent times. Sure, he’s occasionally worked to the front and controlled proceedings from there, but it’s not since his debut run for Stewart in September that he’s been able to stroll straight to the top.
And do you remember what happened then? He ripped out one of the fastest final quarters ever recorded on an Australian racetrack, with a 25.1sec closing fraction just a pointer of what was to come.
Captain Ravishing’s owner Hass Taiba is perhaps most confident about how things will play out at Menangle tonight.
“I have no doubt that he will lead. No doubt at all,” he says.
“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.”
So, when it’s all said and done, will he lead tonight’s $250,000 Group 1? And even if he doesn’t, will it matter?
To put it simply… yes and no.
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.