Mark takes a turn in the sulky behind luckless Captain Nemo at Albion Park tonight
By Barry Lichter • 24 September 2021
The outside of the second row is no fun zone to be starting from at Albion Park but at least trainer Mark Dux says Captain Nemo should be able to clear traffic from there tonight.
Dux will take the reins himself behind the horse in the third race after his luckless run last week when Paul Diebert was quizzed by stewards over why the hot favourite became buried three deep on the markers and was never able to secure room in the run home.
Diebert came out of the gate conservatively, conscious that when he lit the horse up early the previous week he over-raced terribly, was going backwards before the home turn and ran 51 metres last.
Trainer Mark Dux … “With average luck he’ll be right in the finish.”Diebert told stewards he thought he could secure the leader’s back without driving the horse hard but was unable to raise enough speed, was crossed by a rival, and became trapped on the inner.
“He’s still looking for a run,” Dux said today of Captain Nemo who ran sixth.
“I think he would have won easily, he was going half pace.”
Captain Nemo drops in grade tonight - last week he took on rating 70 to 85 rivals and tonight he is the highest rated horse in a rating 56 to 62 race.
“It’s not an overly hard field, it will only be the traffic that stops him. He’ll be a long way back early but at least he’ll have every chance to get going when he wants to.
“With average luck he’ll be right in the finish.”
Captain Nemo races at 9.40pm NZ time at Albion Park tonight.
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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.”
