Captain Nemo is brave in staving off The Peacemaker in his last visit to Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.
Captain Nemo well placed to salute the judge again at Cambridge on Thursday night
By Barry Lichter • 27 January 2021
From the pole position improving pacer Captain Nemo looks the one to beat in the eighth race at Cambridge on Thursday night.
Captain Nemo ran a good fourth at Auckland last week, where he has previously struggled going right-handed, and has an excellent record at Cambridge with two wins, a second and a fourth in strong Sires’ Stakes company from only four starts.
“We took the spreaders off him last week at Auckland and he didn’t touch his knee but he’s obviously better left-handed at Cambridge,” says Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green.
“He’s definitely the one to beat from that draw.”
Captain Nemo scored on his last visit to Cambridge two starts back when, after sitting parked early, driver David Butcher took him to the front 1200 metres from home.
Though challenged hotly in the run home, the Captaintreacherous three-year-old responded bravely to stave off The Peacemaker by a neck.
In his previous start he ran second at Cambridge to Dixie Reign, looping the field to sit parked from the 900, while the leader was gifted soft sectionals in front.
Gareth Paddison with his gift horse Captain Nemo.Green expects the powerfully built Captain Nemo to keep improving with racing and the quality of the field he meets on Thursday is well down on that at Auckland last week when former southerner Makara paced the mobile 2200 metres in 2:41.8, excellent time for a low grade.
Captain Nemo had to run only 2:44.2 to win at Cambridge at his previous start.
Captain Nemo is raced in partnership by Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street with the Green Machine Syndicate, Grant Dickey, Peter Dougherty, Ian Middleton and accomplished golfer Gareth Paddison who was gifted a share by the Streets after finishing second in the Wairakei Invitational last year.
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Nathan’s comments
Wednesday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
5.11pm
“She’s finding her feet and was a bit unlucky at Taupo. She put in a few rough ones out of the gate - she was like that early in her prep and could just jump out of it - but she’s generally doing things right now. She trained well on Saturday and, with the right run, could run top three.”
Race 3: The Night Fox
6pm
“He won really well on the second day at Hawera and if he races anything like he’s training he’ll be hard to beat. He ran a 27.3 quarter during the week and I was just sitting on him. I’ll tell Craig to go forward, set an even tempo and cut him loose at the 600. I think he’s our best of the night.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.35pm
“Hopefully he’s improved since Taupo when Fergie drove him a treat in front. I actually think he’s better coming off something’s back but I’ll leave it up to Fergie. He’s up a bit in grade but has the right draw to be in it all the way.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.32pm
“He had an easy run last week and he can go a lot faster than that. He should be hard to beat. It won’t matter if he doesn’t find the lead from six, he’ll be just as effective coming from off the pace. He’s a pretty classy horse, classier than most of those against him.”
