Captain Nemo is racing better than his form line indicates.
Nemo can spark up on Tuesday but in-form trainer-tipster Mark says Hy Voltage is the one
By Barry Lichter • 13 November 2023
Hy Voltage looks the logical winner but trainer Mark Dux warns not to write off Captain Nemo’s chances at Albion Park on Tuesday.
As an R70 pacer, Lincoln Farms’ five-year-old doesn’t look well off in the ratings for the up-to-R90 sixth race, seemingly dominated by Hy Voltage (R90) and Surf Ace (R86).
But Dux says the horse is racing well enough to be a really good place chance and even has a winning hope - if things go his way.
“Hy Voltage is the one to beat but, in a small field, I wouldn’t write Nemo off,” said Dux who correctly labelled $9 winner Rock Supreme as a likely winner over Argyle last Saturday night.
With only six rivals, Captain Nemo won’t be far from the leaders even if he is crossed by the two higher class horses, he says.
“Jaccka Wally will lead out from two and I think he’ll hold. The two out wide are the high class horses, Hy Voltage and Surf Ace, and I thought they would go forward, but they probably wouldn’t cross him.”
Dux says he’d like to see driver Grant Dixon put Nemo in a nice spot and give him his chance but the odds are he’ll just come out steadily from four and look for some cover.
“I couldn’t back Surf Ace because he’s too much of a runaway at times, and can choke down, but Hy Voltage is settling a lot better lately and has been racing some of the better free-for-allers.”
Last Friday, Hy Voltage notched his 18th win in a similar up-to-R90 2139 metres, recording a very slick mile rate of 1:53.6. On Tuesday he drops back to 1660 metres, a distance he won over in August rating 1:52.5.
But Dux points to Nemo’s fresh-up third in August, just a head behind Hy Voltage, to illustrate he’s not out of contention on Tuesday.
“He’ll race well.”
Captain Nemo races at 6.37pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
