Captain Nemo hangs on grimly in a blanket finish at Alexandra Park tonight. PHOTO: Megan Liefting.
Brisbane bound Captain Nemo torpedoes Auckland rivals with gutsy swansong win
By Barry Lichter • 4 June 2021
Part-owner Gareth Paddison was at Alexandra Park tonight to farewell Captain Nemo - but what played out was far from what he was expecting.
After 20 winless starts at Auckand by Captain Nemo who had managed only three placings, the talented golfer, was expecting more of the same.
But Paddison, who was gifted a 10 percent share in the three-year-old by Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street after finishing runner-up in last year’s Wairakei Invitational, had a night to remember when Nemo finally delivered.
Gareth Paddison with Captain Nemo in the Alexandra Park stables.And did he deliver in style - showing incredible toughness after first working hard three wide to the death then forging to the lead at the bell.
And while hotly challenged inside and out in the run home, when the judge came to sort out the five horses in the photo finish, Nemo had a half neck margin over Blitzembye, with a nose to Zarias another nose to Melanion and a head to talented southerner Yorokobi.
The win, at $22, was a fitting finale to the horse’s career in New Zealand - he’s booked to fly to Australia on June 11 with Copy That, American Dealer and Tommy Lincoln to campaign in Brisbane.
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is sure Captain Nemo will continue to improve in Queensland.
“He’s obviously got stronger, he couldn’t have done what he did tonight a year ago.
“He had every reason to not win. After what he did in the running even if he’d run second or third you’d have been rapt.
“But it’s just the nature of him, he’s a very genuine horse and I’m very pleased he’s won his last race here. He deserved that.”
Green says while Captain Nemo did a power of work, just like the previous week when second to Art Nouveau, driver David Butcher knew that’s how he races best.
Captain Nemo’s last return to the Alexandra Park stables is a triumphant one. Trainer Ray Green greets the horse while driver David Butcher fields questions from Jo Stevens. PHOTO: Megan Liefting.“He loves it out there (parked), he relaxes.
“He’s always been a bit of a favourite of mine but I admit I did go off him a bit. He’s coming to the party now though and I’m sure he’ll go well in Brisbane, it will be a big drop down in class for him there. I wasn’t thinking about the derby until tonight but you’d have to put him in now.”
The A$100,680 Queensland Derby (2680m) on July 24 is also a target for Lincoln Farms’ classy American Dealer but Green says Captain Nemo’s toughness will stand to him around Albion Park where times are super fast.
The win was the Captaintreacherous colt’s fifth after three previous triumphs at Cambridge and one at Palmerston North and he leaves New Zealand with earnings of $54,923 for Paddison, John and Lynne Street, Ian Middleton, the Green Machine Syndicate, Grant Dickey and Peter Dougherty.
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
