Angus Garrard takes the reins behind Captain Nemo again at Albion Park on Tuesday evening. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Battle stations for Captain Nemo at last but all main vents won’t be opened just yet
By Barry Lichter • 21 August 2023
Trainer Mark Dux is expecting a good race from Captain Nemo on Tuesday even though he hasn’t lined up for nearly four months.
Dux will produce the five-year-old in the ninth race at Albion Park without a recent trial but says he’s ready to go.
“I’m very pleased with him, he’s training really nicely, and I’m sure he’ll run a good race even though he’ll obviously be better for it.
“It’s not an easy race - there are some decent horses in there - but, with the right trip, he can run top four.”
Five of the eight runners in the up-to-rating 90 1660m race are rated higher then Captain Nemo (R74), with two of them, Dark Terror (R83) and Hy Voltage (R87), in peak form.
“There looks to be a bit of speed out wide. If they go hard, we’ll come out steady, hope to get a nice trail and be hitting the line. We won’t be trying to over drive him.”
Captain Nemo hasn’t been seen on the racetrack since April 29, when he ran last of 10, prompting his gelding, which had been in the offing for some time.
It had been four months since his last win during which time he had become more difficult to handle.
But the horse took some time to recover from the operation and he was given a month off to let the swelling settle down.
Nemo joined his Lincoln Farm mates, Tommy Lincoln and Argyle, who were also recovering in the paddock from campaign setbacks.
Untimely setback
Tommy Lincoln’s slip on the training track proved untimely on the eve of the Brisbane carnival, especially as he had just trialled in a 1:51.8 mile rate.
Dux believes the horse strained or tore a hamstring muscle, which saw a large haematoma develop on his leg.
“For a while we couldn’t get it down. We drained it but it filled back up again. When it finally burst again by itself, it drained properly.
“It’s starting to look pretty good and he should be back in work in early September.”
That’s about when Argyle should be ready to trial and race again after a foot abscess wrecked his campaign, forcing a lot of his hoof to be cut away.
“The foot is looking really good now, it’s grown down a lot. Hopefully, we’ll have no more issues now.”
Captain Nemo races at 7.22pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Race 6: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.34pm NZ time
This race will tell us how he measures up against the local horses. We decided to go for this lower graded race, despite having lower prize money, instead of going to the trials one more time. He won the second of two trials on April 21, beating race rival Hezrockinroyalty by four metres. Run over 2230 metres he clocked 57.7 for his last half and 1:59.7 for his last mile. From the pole he’ll start short and be hard to beat.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 7: Lincoln Lou
8.25pm
“He’s a beautiful little horse who doesn’t do anything wrong. He got held up at a crucial time last week and got home well (for sixth). He gets out pretty well so should get a good trip from two. He’ll go his usual honest race. He’s improving all the time, he’s a gutsy little guy, but whether he can measure up to the favourites remains to be seen.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.25pm
“He’s a work in progress and we’re still dabbling with his gear. He’s actually a naturally good-gaited horse, like all the American Ideals, but he’s going through a stage of not really knowing why he’s out there. You just don’t know when he’ll click but three is an ideal draw for him and he should be handy if he does things right.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
9.20pm
“He’s an under-rated horse, as good as those others who are higher rated. He’s proving to be a tidy horse and, while he’s not viewed as a serious player by some, I think he is. He was closing off really well last week behind Hugotastic.”
