Redcliffe’s tight turns make it hard for horses with second row barrier draws.
100 up for Nemo but there’ll be no cake and candles at Redcliffe on Wednesday night
By Barry Lichter • 1 July 2024
Captain Nemo will be having his 100th race start at Redcliffe on Wednesday night but trainer Mark Dux isn’t expecting anything worth celebrating.
Dux knows Nemo, back from illness, will need plenty of favours to reach the money, racing from a horror draw on the quirky triangular track.
“Redcliffe isn’t his favourite track and this race will be like a pipe-opener for him.
“He got sick after his last run and all his legs blew up so we had to give him a week out. It was some kind of virus but, luckily, only two or three of mine got it.”
Since then Dux has been happy with Nemo’s work but he’s been unable to get a start for the horse, with the annual influx to Brisbane for the Constellations carnival.
“I had him in at Albion Park tomorrow but we got balloted out and, while this track isn’t the best for him, we need a starting point.
“I’m going into the race happy with him - he doesn’t need a trial - but from three on the second row, we’ll drive him cold early and come with one run.”
Dux says the days of tripping to Redcliffe for an easy win are over, with better horses racing on the tight 833 metre triangle, and running much faster times.
“But if things falls his way, he’s not out of it. It’s a nice handy field, but not a great field, and I’m sure he’ll finish off well.”
Captain Nemo has won one of his five starts at Redcliffe, but that was back in March, 2022 when he started a $1.30 favourite from the pole against much easier opposition.
He clocks up 100 on Wednesday with a tidy career record of 13 wins, 21 placings and A$136,226 in prizemoney.
Captain Nemo races at 7.17pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Cambridge
Lincoln Lover, Prince Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Lincoln Lou, Sugar Ray Lincoln (scratched).
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm
“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”
Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm
“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm
“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”
