Captain Nemo needs only a little luck to be Topping his rivals at Albion Park tonight
His draw isn’t ideal but Captain Nemo needs only a little luck to score a deserved win at Albion Park tonight.
While Captain Nemo has drawn eight in the fifth race, the fact he is the sole second line runner gives claiming driver Jordan Topping the chance to move out into the running line early, says trainer Mark Dux.
“The back row is better than seven and if he gets any luck he can beat them.
“I’m very happy with him - he’s trained really well since his last race.”
From gate seven on October 3, driver Angus Garrard was forced to drop to the rear and the horse finished on for third as a $34 outsider, less than 10 metres from the winner Luvbite, who clocked a mile rate of 1:55.4 for the 2138 metres, home in 56.6 and 28.2.
From two tonight over 1660 metres, Dux says Luvbite is the logical leader again and the one for the equal top-rated Captain Nemo to beat.
“If Luvbite walks and gets a cheap middle half it will make it hard for us but if something makes Luvbite do a little work, Nemo will be right there with an ounce of luck.”
Topping, 20, who has 70 wins to her name, 28 of them last season, would do a good job on the horse, Dux said.
“I think he’s a really good hope in the small field. He’s put in only one average run this time in, when driven hard, and he hasn’t had a great deal of luck in the others, hitting the line well every time.”
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Friday night at Auckland
Lincoln Lou, Sugar Ray Lincoln, Leo Lincoln.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
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.