Captain Ravishing is a surprise entrant in Thursday’s United Petroleum Yarra Valley Pacing Cup.

The star pacer has drawn gate four for the $30,000 feature, with Nathan Jack set to have his first drive of the Ahmed Taiba-trained speedster in the 2650m event.

Captain Ravishing was scratched from the Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Cup due to injury on October 14 and will be stepping out at the races for the first time since his third placing in the TAB Eureka behind Encipher on September 2.

He looks like starting a short-priced favourite on Thursday, with last Friday night's Swan Hill Pacing Cup champ Serg Blanco (five), Gammalite winner Curly James (seven), 2021 Vic Cup victor Max Delight (10) and last-start SA Pacing Cup runner-up Tango Tara (11) among his rivals.

The De Bortoli Yarra Valley Trotters Cup will see Ollivici try to win from the backmark of 30m, with Harry Stamper (20m), Hammers Law, Visionary and Ofortuna (all 10m) also starting from handicaps.

The Yarra Valley meeting follows the opening of the Breeders Crown Series for 2023, with heats for two-year-old pacers at Bendigo on Wednesday night and qualifiers for three-year-olds at Ballarat on Friday evening.

The feature from Melton Entertainment Park this Saturday night is the Touch Merchant Trotters Free For All.