Gareth Paddison with Captain Nemo, left, and Ryan Fox with Franco Nandor, both chances at Albion Park tonight.
Smile for the birdie - no gimee but top golfers’ gift horses to the fore in Brisbane tonight
By Barry Lichter • 3 September 2021
Two of New Zealand’s best golfers will have their eyes on the Brisbane trots tonight when horses they were gifted shares in do battle at Albion Park.
When Ryan Fox and Gareth Paddison ran the quinella in the Wairakei Invitational last year they unexpectedly were given shares in Franco Nandor and Captain Nemo by Lincoln Farms’ boss and tournament sponsor John Street.
While the three-year-olds did not reach expectations here they eventually found their way to Queensland where their form lines have vastly improved.
Trainer Mark Dux takes Paddison’s Captain Nemo to the Creek tonight confident he’s the one to beat.
Captain Nemo scores three starts back after showing incredible grit three wide in the running. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Drawn four in the third race, Dux says the horse is in with a great chance even though he can’t predict where he’ll end up in the running.
Though drawn inside Keayang Marven, the horse who collared him right on the line last week, Captain Nemo could well end up parked out again.
“He should be starting to get respect now but that doesn’t mean a lot here though,” says Dux. “If drivers can lead, they always seem to want to hold everyone else out.
“If Nemo had a bit more gate speed he’d be terrific. He just lacks that bit of high speed and that’s what’s stopping him from being a better horse.
“But he’ll be rolling forward at some stage. He’s got to be up somewhere handy.”
Captain Nemo has redefined tough in his last three starts, earning cheques despite twice being trapped three wide without cover, then last time three wide to the death at the bell.
“He had them beaten everywhere but on the line last time,” says Dux.
“I think barring bad luck he can win this time. I’m really happy with him.”
Franco Nandor … learning to take a trail rather than leading and stopping. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Two races later Franco Nandor is drawn to get a sweet trip for Fox and friends from the pole, trainer-driver Al Barnes intent on educating him to run to the line.
“He’s got plenty of ability but I want to get him into the habit of chasing, not leading and stopping. Driving him in the trail will hopefully change his attitude.”
Barnes tried the tactics for the first time last week, leading out from the pole before taking a sit behind Skippys Delight, a rival again tonight.
“He was a little keen early, until he got into the back straight, then he came off the bit at the 500. But he seemed to try a bit harder and ran all the way to the line.”
Franco Nandor fought on for third, six metres behind Majorca, who has won all four starts in Queensland since arriving from New Zealand, with Skippys Delight second, in a very slick mile rate of 1:53.6, many seconds faster than Franco Nandor has experienced before.
“Trailing seemed to pay dividends and hopefully he can do it again this week and follow the same horse.
“It’s a similar quality field so they should run time again. I don’t think he can win but he can run second or third.”
Captain Nemo races at 9.50pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
Franco Nandor races at 10.50pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
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Shunt and tangled tail hamper our Johnny - why he can win Friday’s Lincoln Farms Pace
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“She didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
