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 Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
