Captain Nemo running fast sectionals and just needs some luck from dreaded outside draw

Ignore the 3965 form line - Captain Nemo needs only a little luck from the outside of the gate to win at Albion Park on Tuesday evening.

The Captaintreacherous five-year-old gets into the sixth race as the highest equal rated horse and his recent sixth and fifth placings hide some fast sectionals.

Two starts back, when driven by 21-year-old claiming junior Paige Bevan, Nemo went back from the outside gate and came from well back for fifth, running the fastest middle 800 (57.52), the fastest last 800 (55.92) and fastest last 400 (27.77).

And last week his fifth was also much better than it might appear on paper, when he started from the inside of the second row for 16-year-old claimer Layne Dwyer.

Nemo’s sectionals were again right up with the dividend-payers when after being trapped four deep on the pegs, he angled out in the run home, doing his best work when clear to be just 4.4 metres from the winner who clocked a fast 1:52.9 mile rate.

Nemo’s only disappointing run in four starts back, says trainer Mark Dux, was when he was driven hard, three wide to the death seat at the bell.

“He’s going way better when we go back and drive him quietly and that’s what Angus (Garrard) will do on Tuesday.

“It will all depend on how hard they go but he should be hard to beat. His last two runs have been very good and I really think he’s right up to (winning) it. His work has been terrific and I’m really happy with him.

“It’s not a bad race by any stretch but with a bit of luck he’ll be right in it.”

Dux rates second line runners Amami and Rocktagonal hard to beat, along with the pole runner and likely pacemaker Luvbite who, while a serial placegetter, won two starts back when able to lead.

Captain Nemo races at 6.07pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.