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.
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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.”
