Up periscope! The real Captain Nemo surfaces and he’s primed for Albion Park on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 4 September 2023
Captain Nemo’s terrific first-up run suggests he needs only an ounce of luck to score at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Trainer Mark Dux predicted Captain Nemo was ready to run a big race when two weeks ago he resumed from a four-month spell.
But Nemo’s huge effort to go under by just half a neck and a head at odds of 40-to-one exceeded even his expectations.
“I thought he’d race well given how well he was working but he was obviously going to be better for the run.
They’re spread right across the track but Captain Nemo, third from the outside, gets up for third.“He went super and he pulled up well. I couldn’t be more pleased with him.
“He’s got an ordinary draw tomorrow but the main dangers are on the back row with us so I’m sure he’ll acquit himself well.”
Captain Nemo’s dangers - Big Shadow and Miss Mucho - have drawn either side of him in the up-to-75 rating race, a step down on the up-to-90 class the five-year-old contested first-up.
The distance extends to 2138 metres on Tuesday but that can only help Nemo - five of his seven wins in the state have been over the longer trip than last week’s 1660 metres.
“It will come down to luck in the running but the way he raced the other day he’s a realistic winning chance.”
Nemo’s Lincoln Farms-owned stablemate Argyle will trial either this Friday or next week while Tommy Lincoln comes back into work on Tuesday.
Captain Nemo races at 7.47pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
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Debbie lands Golden draw at last in her bid to give Sampson a haircut at the Park
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Wednesday at Auckland
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
5.10pm
“I can’t believe he’s not picked in four (on the HRNZ website). He actually headed Cyclone Rebel last start but switched off. We’ve added sliding blinds which seem to have helped in training and he’s got to be a good each-way chance. He just needs a bit of luck from six on the gate.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
5.10pm
“He’ll need some luck from the outside but hopefully he can still get a cheque. He doesn’t have as much speed as Prince Lincoln.”
Race 7: Spiritual Bliss
6pm
“I think she’ll be able to handle the rise in class. She’s a pretty good mare who keeps finding when the pressure goes on. It won’t be easy but she has a good draw and has already run a mile in 1:55.3.”
Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
6pm
“It’s hard to know how she compares with Spiritual Bliss but I think they’re both chances. Debbie Lincoln is still the fastest three-year-old to win over 1700 metres around Alexandra Park and she was excellent again when just pipped by Tyson last time.”
Race 12: Tyson
8.38pm
“The rise in class won’t stop him. If they go a bit harder, he can still run a 56 half off a solid pace. He’s improving all the time, more than I thought he would. He could easily win again.”
Race 12: Leo Lincoln
8.38pm
“We threw him in the deep end first-up when he really needed another trial. That race will bring him on a bit but I think he’ll need another before we see him at his best.”
