Captain Nemo will be very hard to beat if he can lead at Redcliffe tonight. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Nemo looks a winner but Tommy will have to settle for a place on tight Redcliffe circuit
By Barry Lichter • 12 March 2022
The draws at Redcliffe tonight point to Captain Nemo as a winning chance and Tommy Lincoln as no better than a place chance.
That’s the advice of trainer Mark Dux who takes Lincoln Farms’ pair to the tight 833 metre circuit with Albion Park still out of action.
Dux says it looks like repair work at the No. 1 Brisbane track will take another two or three weeks after the recent bad flooding.
“But we can’t sit at home doing nothing until then and while Redcliffe won’t really suit them - they can both hang a little - I’m not too worried.”
Dux says he plans to drive Captain Nemo a little harder out of the gate in tonight’s sixth race at 11.10pm NZ time, with the intention of leading from the pole.
“The 2040 metre start is good at Redcliffe from the inside and, if he leads, something would have to go wrong for him to be beaten.
“There are a couple outside him with a bit of speed but he’s better than them. He’s been racing better horses at Albion Park.”
Captain Nemo goes into tonight’s race fitter for his fresh-up run at Albion Park on February 2 when he fought hard after being parked outside the hot pot Juddy Douglas in a 1:55.4 mile rate.
Tommy Lincoln is lining up in the opener at 8.29pm NZ time for the first time in nearly five months after his resumption was delayed by a virus.
But, while Dux is very happy with how the horse is training, he says his second row barrier draw effectively sinks his winning chance.
“The favourite (former Southlander) Deus Ex should lead on his ear from three and, if he does, we won’t beat him. He’ll get no pressure and run a big half and you can’t get around them on the Redcliffe track.
“I’ll tell Angus (Garrard) to drive him for a place - drive him cold and let him run home. You can’t think that he can win unless things go pear shaped for the favourite.
“But I’ll be pleased if he can finish in the top three.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 8.29pm at Redcliffe on Saturday night.
Captain Nemo races at 11.10pm at Redcliffe on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Watch Sammy Lincoln charge home and you’ll want to be on at Cambridge on Thursday night
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
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
4.59pm
“He’s racing well and I can’t fault him. The opposition is stronger this time but I can’t see why he won’t go another good race.”
Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
5.59pm
“She’s a good, tough mare. It depends on the trip you get in these sort of races but she loves it when they run hard and she can get some of the money.”
Race 3: Ultimate Cullect
5.59pm
“We haven’t had a lot of time to assess her yet. From the one drive I’ve had on her she doesn’t strike me as a sit-sprinter. But if they go hard, hopefully she’ll get home well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
6.57pm
“It’s a “brutal” race but she’s drawn to get a suck along and hopefully she can last well enough for a cheque.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.29pm
“There are a few in there that are better than him but he has a handicap advantage and, if he gets a good trip, he could get some of it. He steps well and his driver reckoned he would have won last week if he’d got the run at the right time.”
Race 10: Sammy Lincoln
9.23pm
“I can’t imagine him being beaten - they’d have to knock him over. He’s very fast and in case he has to move quickly early we’ll use the shorteners. I can’t see any problem with him going left-handed - he’s probably better that way.”
Race 11: Rivergirl Bella
9.54pm
“She’s honest and will try hard.”
