Captain Nemo, second from left, is racing far better than his form line suggests. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Forget the form line, Nemo is in Saturday’s race at Albion Park ‘right up to his ears’
By Barry Lichter • 26 April 2024
Captain Nemo’s 00 formline might not instil much confidence but he’s in Saturday night’s race at Albion Park “right up to his ears”, says trainer Mark Dux.
“I rate him a good top three chance,” Dux said of the Lincoln Farms’ five-year-old who drops from a band 5 race to a much weaker field made up of up to rating 70 pacers.
Captain Nemo is rated 71, but gets into the sixth race courtesy of claiming junior Nathan Rothwell and what he does from the six alley could determine the outcome of the race, says Dux.
“I’ll leave it up to Nathan to decide, depending on how the horse feels, but I think he’ll probably want to run the way he’s been feeling in his work.
“I think maybe we roll the dice and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.
“Sometimes going forward from a wide draw can be your undoing and the only worry on Saturday is I’m worried Allmighty Max might try to hold from three. He won a trial the other day in 1:52.8.”
But Dux says if Captain Nemo goes back and they dawdle, like last week, his chances are nil.
When the leader ran an opening quarter in 32.1, and another in 30, Dux says that was the end of Nemo, who beat only one home.
Despite running good sectionals again - Nemo ran the fastest first half (60.93) and middle half (57.12) and the second fastest last mile (1.56.8), driver Adam Sanderson said he simply couldn’t get into the race.
“I told him to make sure you have him ready to go at the half. He came in and said he was ready but had nowhere to go. He had no choice but to go back to the inside and hope for luck.”
Rothwell will be having his first drive on Nemo and Dux says he’s warned the youngster the horse will feel like nothing in the warm-up and just flop around.
“If he’s still like that in the score-up I’ve told him to drive the horse quietly and, if he has to be the first to make a three wide run at the bell, sobeit.
“It’s a winnable race, I’m really happy with the horse.”
Captain Nemo races at 9.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Sammy Lincoln can make amends on Friday after narrow escape - Spiritual Bliss too
Canny Fergie drive gets Lincoln Lover home at Taupo - and it won’t be his last win
Thoughts for Lincoln Farms’ groupie Margaret Rabbitt after Johnny Lincoln braves it out
Lincoln Wave super and Sammy Lincoln super unlucky - two three-year-olds worth following
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
6.18pm
“He was checked and locked wheels into the first turn last week and he had a decent puncture wound in his leg from where they ran into him so you certainly couldn’t condemn him for galloping. He’s a really nice horse, who is going to win races quickly. He hasn’t missed any work, and should be right in it.”
Race 3: Lincoln Wave
6.43pm
“He’s drawn wide again (six) but he’s good enough to get the job done. It’s a bit more of a test for him but there are no cup horses in there and he’s a pretty nice horse. We’ve waited for both him and Sammy Lincoln because of their setbacks at two but it’s been worth it.”
Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
7.11pm
“He was very tough in winning after sitting parked last week. He’s awkwardly drawn again but he tries hard and, with a bit of luck and a good trip, he can get some of it.”
Race 6: Tyson
8.08pm
“Completely forget his run last week when he had no luck in the running. He’s a definite chance.”
Race 6: Spiritual Bliss
8.08pm
“She took no harm from the incident last Friday and has trained on well. I think she’ll go well. If you analyse her run, they went down the back in 27.8 and she did well to finish on for fourth after sitting parked.”
