Everything against Tommy and Nemo when racing returns to Albion Park on Friday

Torrential rain and shocking barrier draws have effectively ruled Tommy Lincoln and Captain Nemo out of contention when racing returns to Albion Park on Friday afternoon.

But while trainer Mark Dux hasn’t been able to work Lincoln Farms’ pair as he’d have liked this week after 185 ml of rain in Brisbane since Saturday, you won’t hear him complaining too much.

Further south, in northern New South Wales, evacuation orders have been going out for the second time in a month with floodwaters rising more than 10 metres leaving several towns, like worst-hit Lismore, under water.

Dux had been looking forward to getting back to racing at Albion Park, which was extensively damaged at the end of February after 700ml fell in three days engulfing the track and surrounds, which are right beside the Brisbane River.

But even if the rebuilt track drains enough to provide a good surface on Friday, Dux knows his pair have little chance.

“I’m not too worried about not being able to work them properly this week as they both had solid runs last week but they’ve got shocking draws which makes it very tough.”

Tommy Lincoln and Angus Garrard will need a stack of luck from a wide gate on Friday afternoon. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Tommy Lincoln, who went within a breath of equalling the Redcliffe track record last Saturday night, goes from six, one from the outside of the gate in the ninth race, and Captain Nemo has fared even worse landing the outside of the arm in race eight.

“They’ve got terrible draws in tougher fields so it will all come down to luck in the running.

“Tommy won’t be able to cross them. He’s not the easiest horse to drag off the gate so we might have to roll across, without chasing him, play it by ear and hope to get some cover.

“I wouldn’t be worried if he landed outside them. Star Galleria might come across and we might even get the one-one, but it won’t be handle bars down like last week.

“He’s good enough to overcome a little bit of difficulty and, if things go his way, he’s still capable of winning because you know he can go the times, but on face value he’s up against it. And it’s not like the gallopers where you can scratch and wait for a better draw.”

Dux says while Tommy has risen in class and meets some of the best pacers in the state, the conditions of the race are against him.

“The race was drawn on dollars earned in their last three starts and because Tommy won good money last week he cops a bad draw.”

Tommy lucked into a A$12,125 winning purse last week, fluking the week where his grade had a A$20,000 allocated stake. (In Queensland a rotating system sees better money go to all grades, rather than just to the free-for-allers.)

“Next week it could be drawn on ratings and he’d get a good draw, but you never know.”

Dux says he will have no choice but to go back on Captain Nemo.

“Not many races are won by going back but on this occasion we’ve got no choice.

“I’ll go quiet early, go back off the gate and see how they go. If I see a few take hold immediately I might change my mind but I can’t see that hapenning.

“I’ll have to be on my bike at some stage though and I just have to hope I can get a cart into the race.”

Captain Nemo races at 6.53pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.Tommy Lincoln races at 7.33pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.