Captain Nemo has won five races in Brisbane, one at Redcliffe. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Don’t let the form line fool you, the Captain should be right in the fight on Wednesday
By Barry Lichter • 19 April 2022
Captain Nemo’s form might look like it’s tailed off but don’t let that fool you when he lines up at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.
The way Captain Nemo has been training, trainer Mark Dux says he’ll be disappointed if the horse doesn’t finish in the money in the fourth race.
Lincoln Farms’ tough campaigner lines up in a heat of an up-to-rating 90 series, where qualifiers from five races in April compete for a A$20,770 stake over 1660 metres at Albion Park on Saturday week.
If he misses the cut, Nemo will be eligible for a A$10,820 consolation the same night.
“It won’t be any pushover for him on Wednesday - it’s not his favourite track and it’s a reasonable field - but I’m really happy with him, he’s done terrific since his last run.”
That race, 11 days ago, when he finished last, was a complete forgive, says Dux.
Sent forward from four on the gate, Captain Nemo was trapped three wide round the first corner on a brutal 26.9 first quarter.
And when Dux tried to push Nemo up outside the leader, the driver of the parked horse refused to relent.
“I thought the guy would be happy to take cover but he obviously thought I wasn’t a good horse to follow. I don’t know where he got that idea from given how tough Nemo races all the time.”
Eased back to the rear, Nemo still couldn’t get in and when Dux tried to improve down the back straight, there was nobody home. Beaten before the home turn, Nemo finished 36 metres from the winner.
“Nothing went right for him but I’m expecting him to run really well this time.”
With Wednesday’s race drawn on earnings in their last four starts, Nemo gets an OK alley of two on the second row, as a consquence of finishing out of the money in his last three.
“I’m happy with that draw,” says Dux. “I’ll follow out the two horse (Artful Maid) and should get a good run through.
“Hemsworth is going well but has drawn wide which isn’t ideal over 1780 metres at Redcliffe.”
Captain Nemo races at 9.06pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday.
More news in Harness
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Sugar Ray signals start of good year ahead with tough win; blinkers for Lincoln Wave
Winners and losers in dates for the new season - your month by month harness guide
Ray: Sammy Lincoln has ‘turned the corner’ and can go on with it on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Angelic Copy
4.53pm
“She’s done everything right and trialled really nicely. I think she’s forward enough to give some cheek. She’s only small. You like to think when you get a good two-year-old like her that they’ll get stronger and transition into a nice three-year-old but she hasn’t grown an inch. But she tries hard and enjoys being out there.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.28pm
“I’m looking forward to seeing him. You never really know ’til you get to the races but he’s trialled well enough to start and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went a good race, despite the draw. He’s a nice sensible colt who’s done nothing wrong and he could develop into a really nice three-year-old.”
Race 6: Lincoln Wave
7.22pm
“He was starting to get into the habit of switching off so we trained him in blinds this week and he went pretty well. He was good from a standing start at the trials with shorteners in and Maurice was actually quite bullish about his standing start manners and thinks that, in time, he’ll end up being a quick beginner. If he steps well, and can land in the first one or two, he’ll definitely be hard to get round.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.22pm
“He’s not spectacular from a stand but he will get away, albeit sometimes a bit slowly. Lincoln Wave has more speed than him but if it comes down to a slugfest he’d be too strong as he’s rock hard fit.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm
“The blinds go back on this week and if he steps and leads like he did three starts ago that would make him the one to beat. He showed with that win that he’s above average and will be a serious chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.23pm
“You could argue she’s a Cambridge horse but sometimes when you throw them in with the bear cats they lift their game and I thought she was really good here last week. Tony (Cameron) said she’d have finished a bit closer too if he hadn’t had to take hold of her close to home (when he ran out of room and hit a marker pole).”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.23pm
“We’ve got blinds on him this week. Harry said he lost concentration a couple of times last week, including at the top of the straight, and thought he’d be a bit more on to it with blinds on. I still thought his was the run of the race last time - none of the others could have done what he did - and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him score.”
