Captain Nemo finishes fast up the inner but just misses.
Nemo fighting fit but wide draw means he’s relying on luck again on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 5 January 2024
Captain Nemo was terrific in running a close second last week but will need luck to win from an inferior draw at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Just half a head was between Captain Nemo and a perfect end to 2023 with trainer Mark Dux full of praise for the Lincoln Farms’ pacer.
“Incredibly, he broke 27 for his last quarter and still didn’t win but the leader just got home so fast,” Dux said.
Captain Nemo, who took a trail on expected pacemaker Bonnie Prince Louis, was actually credited with the fastest last half, 55.81, and quarter, 26.92, in the 2138 metre event.
“Another stride or two and I reckon he would have won. He just wanted to hang out a bit in the straight and that probably cost him. It took Angus a little time to get down to the inside.
“I’m sure he’ll race well again this week but we’ll have to drive him quietly early from six. There are two or three inside him with gate speed.”
With Makara, Lightning Dan and Surf Ace all likely to go foward, Dux says Captain Nemo will have to go back and then it will all come down to tempo and luck.
“It’s just a matter of what they do once they settle, and how much they back off the speed, but with the right trip he can earn money for sure.
“I’m sure he’ll be charging to the line, along with Red Right Hand, who looks the one to beat even from the outside.”
Dux reports Argyle is now over the foot issues which cost him a start on December 30.
Dux suspected the foot was troubling the horse despite his excellent work last Thursday and he was proven right a day later.
An infection saw the horse barely able to walk last Sunday but once it blew out the back of his heel, and he was given antibiotics, the relief was almost instantaneous.
“He had five days off work but he’s back in business now and hopefully we’re on top of it.”
Captain Nemo races at 10.15pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
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Dr Green goes to work on mentally fragile Tyson hoping to pen better script for Friday
Ray tells why he rates Lincoln Lou clearly best of Lincoln Farms’ quartet in the fourth race
It’s all up to Angus - Brisbane’s young gun needs to drive a pearler on Nemo at Redcliffe
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Mark Dux’s comments
Wednesday night at Redcliffe
Race 1: Captain Nemo
7.17pm NZ time
“It’s a reasonable field, they’re not push-overs, but they’re all beatable. It will all come down to who gets the right trip. If we have something go our way we could get some of it as there’s not a lot between them and I don’t think he’s far off now. We’ve got a bad draw again and there’s a bit of speed inside us so I’ll tell Angus to just play it by ear.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln La Moose
7.32pm
“He’s a pretty good horse. He was still below his best last time at Cambridge - he needed the race - but went very well for second behind King’s Watch. With his ace draw, he should be right up there for Zac (Butcher). He always looked a bit delicate but he’s got tougher.”
Race 4: Obadiah Dragon
7.32pm
“He’ll go a good race but our others look better here. His last run was below par for him so we took a blood off him and he had a bit of a virus going on. He was at the tail end of it but it was enough to stop him.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.32pm
“Even if he’s half a run short, I don’t think it will matter, he’ll still be too good for this lot. He only had a mild virus which came right with treatment and he’s trained on well since. He feels pretty good and if I was betting man, I’d bet him for sure based on his last run, which was massive.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.32pm
“He’s in a ‘coming of age’ phase. He rushed up beside them last start and wanted to lay all over them and give them a hug. But that’s normal coltish behaviour. He does that in training as well, rushes up and switches off. He has a lot of ability but also a few little behaviour traits that we need to get on top of.”
Race 6: My Copy
8.24pm
“It won’t be easy from four on the second row but he’s very honest and, if opportunity knocks, he’ll be right there. If he gets a trip, he’s always ready to pounce.”
Race 9: Tyson
9.39pm
“He should be one of the favourites. The raw ability is there and he’ll definitely win races as he has a bit of speed. How far he will take us we have yet to find out but I thought he did really well last time given the run he had.”
