Captain Nemo, once so quiet, has suddenly realised he is a colt, and it’s not helping his racing. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
No, no Nemo. Mark delivers ultimatum: Last chance tomorrow or it’s off to the vet for you
By Barry Lichter • 17 April 2023
Captain Nemo is in for the unkindest cut of all unless he blows his opposition away at Albion Park on Tuesday evening.
After placing in only one of his last eight starts, trainer Mark Dux says Captain Nemo has run out of time to show he can still perform as a colt.
Tuesday’s ninth race is his last chance and, as easily the highest rated runner in the field, Dux says the Nemo of old would be right in it, outside draw and all.
Rated 75, Nemo gets into the up to 70 rating race with concession claiming junior Paige Bevan in the cart.
Paige Bevan, who has 29 winners to her credit, drives Captain Nemo on Tuesday.It’s easily the weakest field he’s tackled in the last few months but Dux isn’t holding his breath for a change of form.
“I just don’t think that he’s racing they way she should be. His work has been good enough to think he should race well but you take him to the track and he lets you down.
“I know they went hard last week (1:53 mile rate) but he was gone way too far from home. It was like he didn’t put in.”
Dux says Nemo has turned into a real colt at home, screaming every time he takes him somewhere - to the paddock, the walker, out of the paddock, it’s non stop.
“He’s carrying on all the time which is not helping the cause. In the early days he was never like this. He didn’t know he was a colt when he got here and he was quiet as anything for the first 12 months. Then all of a sudden late last year he started carrying on like a pork chop.
“We’re definitely going to geld him if we’re not happy with him tomorrow. He’s already booked in. I’m sure he’ll be better as a gelding once we eliminate all those things.
“Unless he blows them away, I don’t think we have any options.”
You only have to look at how some of the horses Nemo used to beat, or finish alongside, have progressed in the last few months to realise Nemo isn’t putting in, he says.
Dux has, however, made a few changes this week which he hopes might help.
“We’ve got pull down blinds on him - he wore them last week but Angus (Garrard) didn’t activate them because he was beaten so soon.
“I’ve tried training him more steadily this week, with no fast work and I’ll tell Paige to drive him quietly early and see if he can run home.”
Captain Nemo races at 7.47pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s come through his two runs well and we can be bolder with him from a front row draw.”
Race 2: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s in good shape and you can’t fault what he’s doing. I don’t think the (seven) draw should make a lot of difference - he’s been parked in his last two and still got money. You wouldn’t take a trifecta without putting him in.”
Race 2: Leo Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s racing really well and just needs a bit of luck from the second row. He’s trained on well and should go well again. ”
Race 4: Rivergirl Bella
6.27pm
“She only has a little sprint but, if she doesn’t have to do too much, she can get home well.”
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.27pm
“She’ll win a race or two, and will get one soon as she’s honest, but she’s still very green. And to be fair to her, she hasn’t had a decent enough run where you can really judge her yet.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.38pm
“Based on the draws, Sammy looks a better chance than Lincoln Wave. Not many win from out there, especially in a Group I race. But I suppose he had a similar draw at Cambridge (six) and got lucky (squeezing into the trail when Nymbal broke) so you never know what can happen. It won’t be easy for him but it would be nice to see him get a good trip as I think he’ll handle the 2700 metres as well as the others.”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.38pm
“If he can hold up, that would be marvellous as if anything can give Jumal a fright, it’s him. I know he’s still a maiden but he’s better than most of them ability-wise. He’s a classy big bugger who is very fast and if he ends up on Jumal’s back he’d be dangerous. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the fray as he has such a lot of ability.”
Rac e 10: Prince Lincoln
9.37pm
“If the real Prince Lincoln turned up he’d be in the money, but you never know with him.”
