Captain Nemo is feeling sharp for tonight’s A$30,000 Garrards Three-Year-Old Classic at Albion Park. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Mark: Freshened Captain Nemo’s feeling very sharp for tonight’s Group III Classic
By Barry Lichter • 13 November 2021
Trainer-driver Mark Dux believes Captain Nemo will be right in the fight for the major money in tonight’s Group III A$30,000 Garrards Three-Year-Old Classic at Albion Park.
Dux gave Lincoln Farms’ gutsy pacer a week off racing to prepare for the event and he says it has had the desired effect.
“He’s been training really well and is feeling a lot sharper than he had been,” Dux said today.
“It’s a good race but I’m sure he’ll be right in the thick of things.”
There’s plenty of form in the 2138 metre race but Captain Nemo will line up the highest rated runner at R76.
“He’s done a super job to get where he has against older horses and tonight races only his own age group.”
Mark Dux has driven Captain Nemo five times for three wins, a close second equal and a fourth.Captain Nemo has drawn well in two, a draw from which Dux believes he can put Captain Nemo into a winning position.
“There’s good speed outside him but, as soon as the dust settles, I’m hoping to pull straight around them.
“I won’t try to drive him pretty, I’ll put him into the race and make our own luck. It will all depend on whether he can get to the chair cheaply enough and how hard the others have to work early.”
Dux can see General Montana’s gate speed taking him to an early lead but he expects the Chantal Turpin-trained Big Wheels to be the major threat.
“He was good first-up after doing a bit of work and sitting outside them and he looks the one to beat.
“But I’m sure Captain Nemo will race well, his times compare well with the others.”
Three of Nemo’s four Brisbane wins have been over 2138 metres and the fastest, four starts back, was in a 1:56.1 mile rate.
Big Wheels’ best effort at the longer trip was when a 13 metre second to another race rival in Manila Playboy who rated 1:55 in winning the A$102,000 Qbred Triad Final in May.
The ultra consistent Manila Playboy, who has won eight of 15 starts, is fresh-up since June and has the outside of the gate to contend with.
Captain Nemo is well favoured in the early betting as a $3.50 second favourite behind Big Wheels ($2.90).
He boasts the consistent record of four wins and four placings from 12 starts in Queensland for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, Gareth Paddison, the Green Machine Syndicate, Grant Dickey and Ian Middleton.
Captain Nemo races at 9.42pm NZ time at Albion Park tonight.
More news in Harness
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
$101 winner Lincoln Wave has improved and is worth following in Friday’s derby lead-up
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s come through his two runs well and we can be bolder with him from a front row draw.”
Race 2: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s in good shape and you can’t fault what he’s doing. I don’t think the (seven) draw should make a lot of difference - he’s been parked in his last two and still got money. You wouldn’t take a trifecta without putting him in.”
Race 2: Leo Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s racing really well and just needs a bit of luck from the second row. He’s trained on well and should go well again. ”
Race 4: Rivergirl Bella
6.27pm
“She only has a little sprint but, if she doesn’t have to do too much, she can get home well.”
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.27pm
“She’ll win a race or two, and will get one soon as she’s honest, but she’s still very green. And to be fair to her, she hasn’t had a decent enough run where you can really judge her yet.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.38pm
“Based on the draws, Sammy looks a better chance than Lincoln Wave. Not many win from out there, especially in a Group I race. But I suppose he had a similar draw at Cambridge (six) and got lucky (squeezing into the trail when Nymbal broke) so you never know what can happen. It won’t be easy for him but it would be nice to see him get a good trip as I think he’ll handle the 2700 metres as well as the others.”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.38pm
“If he can hold up, that would be marvellous as if anything can give Jumal a fright, it’s him. I know he’s still a maiden but he’s better than most of them ability-wise. He’s a classy big bugger who is very fast and if he ends up on Jumal’s back he’d be dangerous. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the fray as he has such a lot of ability.”
Rac e 10: Prince Lincoln
9.37pm
“If the real Prince Lincoln turned up he’d be in the money, but you never know with him.”
