Captain Nemo and Paul Diebert out-tough their rivals at Albion Park earlier in the month. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Periscope on Our Action Man but our Captain Nemo can dictate from the draw on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 23 August 2021
Tough-as-teak pacer Captain Nemo looks mighty hard to beat again on Tuesday in what looks a two-horse race at Albion Park.
And this time, Lincoln Farms’ three-year-old has the advantage in the draw over his last-start conqueror Our Action Man, starting from five on the front compared with his rivals’ second row eight.
Captain Nemo has stunned everyone with his last two starts in Brisbane, sitting three wide without cover, winning on August 3 and a week later getting up off the canvas on the home turn to claw back into second.
Trainer Mark Dux described his last start performance as “a very decent effort” after he was timed to run his last half, solo three wide, in 56.46.
“I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t race well again. I could have run him last week but I opted to miss a week because he had had those two gut-busters.
“But he’s done terrific - I’m more than happy with him - and barring bad luck he’ll be right in the finish.”
Dux says Captain Nemo should roll across from five and sit right on the speed over the 1660 metres.
“We can’t be going back over a mile. I’d like to be in front of Our Action Man, even if we’re parked, so we can dictate.”
Dux says it’s hard to see Our Action Man getting as good a trip as last start when he was able to lead as he liked from gate two.
While pole runner Jay Tee Tyron has a bit of gate speed, Dux says he hasn’t been going so well lately so is unlikely to give the favourite, drawn on his back, a drag into the race.
“Our Action Man will still be hard to beat but he won’t be getting it as easy as last time. And I don’t think any of the other horses are going super.
“It comes down to a two-horse race and we just need an ounce of luck.”
Captain Nemo, by Captaintreacherous out of Arden Caviar, is chasing his seventh win for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, Gareth Paddison, the Green Machine Syndicate, Grant Dickey, Peter Dougherty and Ian Middleton.
Captain Nemo races at 8.30pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went better last time when third. She tries hard but doesn’t win out of turn and there look to be a few here that are better than her.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.32pm
“He’s been racing well and won two nice stakes at Manawatu so we can’t complain. But he’s up in grade and, even with a head start, I anticipate horses like Little Spike and The Surfer would be much too good for him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Whats Up The Hill
6.29pm
“We had to change his sulky on the track just before the start of the race when the hub collapsed on one of the wheels. The replacement was a bit short and he was touching the wheels in the running. And when Paramount Lady came off his back and swished round him at the 400, he tried to go with her and didn’t have the ringcraft to stay down trotting. Apart from that I thought he went super.”
Race 8: Lincoln La Moose
9.23pm
“He was a certainty beaten last start at Cambridge but how could he beat these horses who are far higher graded? It once again shows just what a shortage of horses we have in the north. He’ll just have to go round to drop points.”
