Angus Garrard takes the reins behind Captain Nemo again at Albion Park on Tuesday evening. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Battle stations for Captain Nemo at last but all main vents won’t be opened just yet
By Barry Lichter • 21 August 2023
Trainer Mark Dux is expecting a good race from Captain Nemo on Tuesday even though he hasn’t lined up for nearly four months.
Dux will produce the five-year-old in the ninth race at Albion Park without a recent trial but says he’s ready to go.
“I’m very pleased with him, he’s training really nicely, and I’m sure he’ll run a good race even though he’ll obviously be better for it.
“It’s not an easy race - there are some decent horses in there - but, with the right trip, he can run top four.”
Five of the eight runners in the up-to-rating 90 1660m race are rated higher then Captain Nemo (R74), with two of them, Dark Terror (R83) and Hy Voltage (R87), in peak form.
“There looks to be a bit of speed out wide. If they go hard, we’ll come out steady, hope to get a nice trail and be hitting the line. We won’t be trying to over drive him.”
Captain Nemo hasn’t been seen on the racetrack since April 29, when he ran last of 10, prompting his gelding, which had been in the offing for some time.
It had been four months since his last win during which time he had become more difficult to handle.
But the horse took some time to recover from the operation and he was given a month off to let the swelling settle down.
Nemo joined his Lincoln Farm mates, Tommy Lincoln and Argyle, who were also recovering in the paddock from campaign setbacks.
Untimely setback
Tommy Lincoln’s slip on the training track proved untimely on the eve of the Brisbane carnival, especially as he had just trialled in a 1:51.8 mile rate.
Dux believes the horse strained or tore a hamstring muscle, which saw a large haematoma develop on his leg.
“For a while we couldn’t get it down. We drained it but it filled back up again. When it finally burst again by itself, it drained properly.
“It’s starting to look pretty good and he should be back in work in early September.”
That’s about when Argyle should be ready to trial and race again after a foot abscess wrecked his campaign, forcing a lot of his hoof to be cut away.
“The foot is looking really good now, it’s grown down a lot. Hopefully, we’ll have no more issues now.”
Captain Nemo races at 7.22pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
