Captain Nemo’s field forms a perfect arrow head as they approach the finishing post at Albion Park last Saturday.
Nemo will find it tough on Friday and Tommy’s out, waiting for the guns to go home
By Barry Lichter • 7 July 2022
Captain Nemo is on the improve but he’ll find it tough at Albion Park on Friday, says trainer Mark Dux.
Nemo, a rating 76 horse, missed out on his preferred start on Saturday night, and is one of the lowest rated runners in the sixth race for up to rating 90 pacers.
“It’s a pretty strong field - every bit as good as last week, maybe stronger - and while he’s starting to get back to where he was, he’s not quite there yet.”
Dux was very pleased with how Nemo performed in only his second run back last Saturday night - from the second row he trailed winner Ronaldo all the way and fought hard in the run home for third.
“I was more than happy with the run, it told me he’s heading in the right direction and he’s done well since.
“We’ll come out steady on Friday, get into the running line, and play it by ear.”
But with Ronaldo a rival again and the rating 94 Mafuta Vautin and rating 92 Saucy Dreams also in the field, Dux isn’t getting his hopes up too high.
Racing at this time of the year has become very tough, he says, with so many interstate horses in Queensland for the winter carnival.
“Once they brought only their best ones but now a few more come as well and if you’re even a touch down on form it’s hard.”
Break for Tommy
That’s why Dux has decided to give Tommy Lincoln a short break, after he was made first emergency for the opening race on Saturday night.
Tommy looked well outclassed anyway in the hot field which includes Miracle Mile runner-up Jilliby Kung Fu.
Dux says he’s not sure why Tommy stopped last Saturday night after leading a weaker field as a warm favourite.
“I don’t know whether he just had an off night or if the 26.6 first quarter played into it. That other horse was in our face the rest of the way too.
“I’ll give him a week off to freshen up and then start again. Hopefully all the good ones will have gone home in a month.”
Captain Nemo races at 6.07pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
Tommy Lincoln was balloted out at Albion Park on Saturday night so will have a short break.
More news in Harness
Debbie lands Golden draw at last in her bid to give Sampson a haircut at the Park
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.22pm
“She got home really well on the second night at Manawatu and gets a good draw here. There’s not much exposed form in the race so it’s hard to know how she compares but she’ll win one.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
7.01pm
“I thought she went super again last week with no luck and we’ve got a decent draw for a change so you have to like her chances. She’s been getting in on the corners, so we’ve added a Murphy blind.”
Race 3: Tyson
7.01pm
“I was impressed by the way he hung on to Captain Sampson and Greased Lightnin last week. They’re strong sprinters and it was only a sprint up the straight. He’ll need things to go his way from six.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.01pm
“It was his first run for a while last week and he probably needed another trial. But we thought we might as well race him to set him up for this week. The outside draw of eight doesn’t help.”
Race 9: Lincoln Lover
9.55pm
“He’s not as sharp as our other two but he’s a game little bugger. He’ll win races for sure.”
Race 9: Prince Lincoln
9.55pm
“I thought he went really well last week. He’d had only one trial and was a bit fresh so it was understandable that he got tired the last bit. That will tighten him up and I’m expecting him to race well. He’s trained on well since.”
Race 9: Johnny Lincoln
9.55pm
“Prince has the wood on Johnny but he’ll still go well. He found the line well last week. It was his first run for a while too, and his first as a gelding.”
