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.
More news in Harness
Lincoln Wave scorches in, still on target for richer races and Sammy’s making progress too
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
