Mark: Brave Captain Nemo in form but that outside draw on Friday night is just a killer
By Barry Lichter • 8 March 2023
Captain Nemo raced right up to his courageous best at Albion Park last week but faces a near impossible task there on Friday evening, says trainer Mark Dux.
“I’d like to find a positive but there are none - that outside draw is just a killer and in a good field it’s going to be super hard for him.
“Last week even though it was a strong field I still had a feeling he might race well, from the good draw, and he did.”
Driven to an early lead, Captain Nemo was clearly headed down the back straight but fought his way back to lead again early in the home straight.
And he never flinched late over the 2138 metres, going under by just 1.7 metres and half a head.
“But this week, from seven, over 1660 metres, I just can’t see how he can get into it.”
Equal lowest rated in the field, but starting from the worst draw, Nemo comes up against a number of future free-for-allers on the way up, says Dux.
“Angus (Garrard) will just drive him how he feels and he’ll do the best he can.
“It’s a shame because I’m really happy with the horse. He pulled up well and has done terrific this week.
“When the right one stands up, Nemo’s pretty good but he has his off days because he races so tough.”
Dux is likely to let Nemo stay at home next week, depending on what sort of a run he gets on Friday.
“I thought I might change it up a bit and not run him every week. We’ll miss a week here and there.
“He might handle that better than running week after week because he races so tough, it’s not like he ever gets any easy trips.”
Captain Nemo races at 8.25pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
