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.
More news in Harness
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Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Shunt and tangled tail hamper our Johnny - why he can win Friday’s Lincoln Farms Pace
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“She didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
