Captain Nemo, pictured after winning at Manawatu, has aways hinted at more to come. PHOTO: Royden Williams.
Captain Nemo shipshape again, says Mark, but it will all come down to luck from bad draw
By Barry Lichter • 2 August 2021
A very wide draw has thrown a spanner in the works but expect Captain Nemo to go a much better race at Albion Park on Tuesday than he did when debuting in Queensland.
Lincoln Farms’ three-year-old ran a shocker as a $2.30 favourite on June 25, dropping out to beat only one home after hanging in badly and racing roughly round every turn, not allowing driver Anthony Butt to get him closer than three wide for the entire trip.
Butt told stewards during a post race inquiry that the horse raced ungenerously because he was hitting his knees round the bends.
But Lincoln Farms’ Ray Green and now caretaker trainer Mark Dux have sorted that issue, fitting a burr to the horse’s inside rein.
“He’s been good working with it at home,” says Dux. “If he hangs again the next thing to try is a pole but I’ve been very happy with him.”
Captain Nemo hasn’t raced since that inglorious first-up attempt because he tied up but Dux says he’s now on top of that problem.
“He’s got a terrible alley - the outside of the front line - but if he gets a reasonable run he can win.
“It’s not the best field, but they’re not no-hopers. There are a couple in there that go OK. If he was going one-on-one he could beat most of them but it will all come down to luck from that draw.
“If he had brilliant gate speed you could burn across, but he doesn’t, so he’ll have to work into it at some stage.
“If he can get a nice run into the race, he’ll be amongst it.”
Captain Nemo, who is the equal top rated horse in the field and will be driven by Paul Diebert, left New Zealand in career best form, notching his first win at Alexandra Park, after only being able to win previously against Cambridge (three times) and Manawatu company.
And in his second last start at Auckland he beat all but the pomising Art Nouveau, who rounded up a strong field to win the Futurity Final at Auckland last Friday night.
Green has always had a bit of a soft spot for the Captaintreacherous colt, whom he predicted would strengthen into a useful performer for Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street, Gareth Paddison, the Green Machine Syndicate, Grant Dickey, Peter Dougherty and Ian Middleton.
Captain Nemo races at 6.12pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
