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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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.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 7: Lincoln Lou
8.25pm
“He’s a beautiful little horse who doesn’t do anything wrong. He got held up at a crucial time last week and got home well (for sixth). He gets out pretty well so should get a good trip from two. He’ll go his usual honest race. He’s improving all the time, he’s a gutsy little guy, but whether he can measure up to the favourites remains to be seen.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.25pm
“He’s a work in progress and we’re still dabbling with his gear. He’s actually a naturally good-gaited horse, like all the American Ideals, but he’s going through a stage of not really knowing why he’s out there. You just don’t know when he’ll click but three is an ideal draw for him and he should be handy if he does things right.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
9.20pm
“He’s an under-rated horse, as good as those others who are higher rated. He’s proving to be a tidy horse and, while he’s not viewed as a serious player by some, I think he is. He was closing off really well last week behind Hugotastic.”
