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
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
