Captain Nemo meets weaker opposition but lands the outside alley at Albion Park on Friday. PHOTO: Royden Williams.
Mark calls for conservative tactics this time with bulky Captain Nemo at Albion Park
By Barry Lichter • 14 September 2023
Trainer Mark Dux is hoping a change of driving tactics will get Lincoln Farms’ Captain Nemo into the money at Albion Park on Friday evening.
Driven tough last time, making a sweeping run three wide to the death at the bell, Nemo punctured before the home turn, finishing 27 metres away in ninth.
It’s a formula Nemo’s drivers have used to good effect plenty of times in the past but, as Dux points out, now that the horse has advanced up the grades he’s having to go a lot faster.
“Previously he sat there on a 57 half no problem but now they’re running mile rates of 1:55 and faster for 2138 metres and the fractionals are so quick at the end of the race.”
On top of the early work, Nemo simply couldn’t cope with last week’s 55.9 last half.
“Now that he’s up in grade and they run so fast you can’t just think you’re better than them all the time and over-drive him.
“Some days when you’re fitter, yes. But it was only his second run back the other day. Angus (Garrard) said he travelled well but just got tired.”
Having nominated so many times, only to have the races not stand up, hadn’t helped Nemo either, Dux said.
“He’s way heavier than last time in - he’s bulked up a lot (despite being gelded).”
Dux said the plan this week would be to drive Nemo much more conservatively, a tactic which concession claiming driver Paige Bevan used successfully last time she drove the horse in April when second.
Using Bevan’s three point claim meant Nemo could squeeze into Friday’s up-to-rating 70 race, where he is the highest rated.
“We’ll go back, drive him quietly, try to get a tag into it, and hopefully see him finish off well.
“If they walk and sprint it will make it hard but those are the risks you have to take sometimes, you just bite the bullet and hope things pan out for you.
“The horse seems really good,” Dux said.
“His first-up run (when third) was super and everything (bar the outside draw) suits him on Friday.”
Captain Nemo races at 7.57pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
More news in Harness
$101 monster upset! - Lincoln Wave makes the most of lucky break and fills plenty of pockets
Omaha Lincoln long in the odds but he has enough toe to say he won’t be entirely beached
Watch Sammy Lincoln charge home and you’ll want to be on at Cambridge on Thursday night
Lincoln Wave scorches in, still on target for richer races and Sammy’s making progress too
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Omaha Lincoln
4.49pm
“He’s never been to Cambridge, and it’s his first time off the place, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go well - he’s certainly got enough speed to do the business. It’s guesswork trying to assess him against the others but I think he’ll do everything right so he’s a chance.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
6.51pm
“She is a bit one-dimensional - she’ll take charge of proceedings when the gate leaves. She could get parked but if she got a cheque I’d be happy.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.22pm
“He was taking ground off the winner last week and I don’t think the step up to 2700 will make much difference, he’s race fit now. He’ll do what he can do, he’s no champion, but he’s got the draw, he steps well and he won’t be far away.”
Race 7: Lincoln Wave
7.52pm
“The draw is awkward over the sprint distance at Cambridge but he’s absolutely capable of being right in the fray if he happened to get a good trip - he’s an improver every time he goes to the races. Not many of the others have run 1:54.”
Race 7: Sammy Lincoln
7.52pm
“I thought he did well to finish third last week after being parked out. The draw makes it very hard but he’s got real speed and if he dropped into it late, it wouldn’t surprise me if he got home really well.”
Race 10: Spiritual Bliss
9.24pm
“They’ll know they’ve been to the races if she gets any kind of trip. She was parked the whole way last time in 1:52 and wasn’t far off them. I don’t really want to see her parked again but you’d think Tytate would duck for cover knowing we’d say in front. She’s tough and reliable - she hasn’t gone a bad race since we’ve had her - and you know she’ll put herself in the race.”
Race 10: Ultimate Cullect
9.24pm
“The outside is not a good draw for her but, if they go hard, it will suit her.”
