Mark: Freshened Captain Nemo’s feeling very sharp for tonight’s Group III Classic

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.