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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Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Cambridge
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
1.35pm
“This looks a good race for him. We haven’t done anything with him since Thursday but, with natural improvement after such a long spell, he has to be the one to beat.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
3.04pm
“She should be dangerous from two. It was a good effort to sit parked last week and you’d expect natural improvement from that fresh-up run. She’s a pretty good filly.”
Race 5: Commander Lincoln
3.05pm
“Onyx Shard looks a better chance from two but he has the advantage of being hard fit.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
3.29pm
“This is a big drop in class for him and he is definitely the one to beat, on paper. From the inside draw you’re obligated to leave, or risk being crossed, but he gets out okay.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
3.29pm
“It was a better run than it looked last time when she was held up in the home straight. She’s improving dramatically all the time and I expect her to give them a fright.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
3.58pm
“The winning time was only 2:47 last week but It wouldn’t have mattered what time they went, he was going to win. This is harder but there’s no reason he couldn’t do it again.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
4.57pm
“He stands over them on class and you can’t fault what he’s doing. He’s a big winning chance, despite the 35 metre handicap. He’s the only one on the mark so he should step well and be the one to beat.”
