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
Why $34 rank outsider Obadiah Dragon takes Ray’s fancy at Auckland on Friday night
Even some minor money would please Ray on what looks to be a tough night at Auckland
This morning’s work like the Nemo of old but Thursday’s draw is more than cruel
Ray: Little Leo’s no star but he’s the kind of horse everybody would love to own
Our runners this week
Friday at Albion Park
Captain Nemo.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Racer 7: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.51pm NZ time
Update: Late scratched
The horse has improved with his latest run (for second) and the field looks a little weaker this time. Ammicchi and Whata Optimist can fly the gate, so the lead might not be there, but with any sort of trip he should be very competitive again.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Cove
6.38pm
“You wouldn’t know what he’s going to do. It depends whether he wants to win or not. He trained really well last week. This week he’s been going like shit. He gets in going right-handed, so he could be worse at Auckland.”
Race 3: Frisco Bay
6.38pm
“It’s impossible to predict what might happen from the second row draw but you can put a line through his last run, they went nothing and only sprinted up the straight.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.30pm
“He went another good race last week, slightly inconvenienced at a bad time. He wasn’t very quick out of the gate but did enough to hold up three fence. It’s a smaller field this time so it might be run a bit differently but he’ll need the right trip.”
Race 5: My Copy
7.30pm
“He went another good, honest race last week, but had to come four wide on the home turn. He’s better suited in a smaller field on Friday but will need all the breaks.”
Race 10: Obadiah Dragon
9.52pm
“I think he’s our best chance. He’s an improving horse who is right in the zone. He’s better than most people think and I’m sure he’ll go a good race.”
