Captain Nemo is showing no sign of stopping for Paul Diebert after his enormous run last week. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Captain Nemo can torpedo his Albion Park rivals again on Tuesday, bad draw and all
By Barry Lichter • 9 August 2021
Trainer Mark Dux is predicting another big effort from Captain Nemo at Albion Park on Tuesday, the horse no worse off for his jaw dropping win last week.
Dux reports Nemo felt sharp in his work on Saturday, just four days after staging one of the toughest wins seen at Brisbane headquarters for a long time.
Left three wide soon after the start he was taken back to the rear by driver Paul Diebert before mounting a solo three wide run 1200 metres out to park outside the two leaders at the bell.
When most horses would have run out of gas before the home turn, Captain Nemo kept finding and never flinched in the run home to take the 2138 metre race by 3.3 metres in a 1:57.6 mile rate.
A round from home and Captain Nemo is three wide outside the leaders pouring it on.The effort had commentator Chris Barsby fizzing over both the enormity and ease of the win.
“He pulled up really well and they’ll know he’s there again,” Dux said.
“The field is a wee bit harder this week - there are a couple in there that are going well - but I can’t see any reason why he won’t work his way around again.”
Captain Nemo will leave the gate from seven, the same spot as last week, so Dux knows he’ll have to do some work again to get near the pace.
And with a horse like five-race winner Our Action Man going so well, drawn perfectly in two, and capable of running time for trainer-driver Rickie Alchin, it won’t be easy, he said.
At his last start the American Ideal gelding began from seven, was three wide to the death, and beat all but warm favourite Bitcoin in a 1:57.4 mile rate.
But Dux has a lot of faith in his new charge for Lincoln Farms.
“I’d rather have a good draw than a bad one but he showed what he was capable of last week.
“I think he’s a great chance.”
Captain Nemo races at 6.12pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Leo poised to roar again - he looks a ratings special at Cambridge on Thursday night
Pole goes on The Night Fox - now he just needs a little luck from a niggly draw on Friday night
$10,000 weanling Johnny Lincoln surprises again with fifth win over white hot blue blood
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.55pm
“Frank drove a nice race on her last time, doing a bit of work early before leading and trailing, but I think the result might have been different if she’d led all the way. She has no speed, she’s better in front and rolling, so this week we’ll tell Frank to go forward and to not hand up and hopefully she can go one better.”
Race 4: The Night Fox
6.56pm
“He got KOed last time at Auckland but Harry said he felt like he could have won with a decent draw so we’ll just put that race behind us. I wouldn’t say this field is any harder. We’ve got a bad draw again but it depends on how the race pans out. I think he can still win.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.58pm
“He’s doing a good job, and he ran home well last time at Cambridge, but Leo Lincoln is definitely the pick of ours.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.58pm
“He’ll strip a lot fitter and I think he’s a good winning chance. He’s been racing open class horses and this is a huge drop back for him.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Linda
5.06pm
“I’m not holding my breath. She beat a poor bunch at Cambridge and will have to step up here.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
5.45pm
“Given the right trip, she should finish off not too bad as she has a bit of speed but, after two runs back, she needs to improve.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s only little but she trialled super and got home in 2:00.6 mile rate. If she repeats that, she’ll be in the fray. It’s early days yet but she’s a nice, tractable filly who has drawn well in two and, based on that one trial, you’d have to give her a chance. Whether she improves off it, we’ll see.”
Race 8: Spiritual Bliss
8.34pm
“I don’t think any of the others stand over her. She’s a tough mare who has trained on well. I’d love to see her in front, she’s proven that’s where she goes best, but whether she’ll get there from four is debatable. But I’m sure she’ll go another good race.”
