Captain Nemo can bark out the orders again at Albion Park on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 13 January 2023
Lincoln Farms’ warrior Captain Nemo looks well placed to score back-to-back wins at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Trainer Mark Dux reports the five-year-old has felt “a million dollars” since his courageous win last Saturday night.
And, after downing a band 5 field last week he drops to a weaker class of up-to-rating 80 horses, which will see him clearly the one to beat, says Dux.
“He’ll be a $2 favourite and rightly so. He’s the highest rated in the field and has been beating better horses lately.”
Nemo is eligible for the race only through the engagement of claiming driver Justin Elkins but Dux says he’ll lose nothing on that score.
“Justin has driven a few winners for me lately and he’ll listen and besides there’s nothing in the field to be scared of.
Laid-back Captain Nemo is doing just enough to hold his rivals last Saturday night.“More than likely he’ll cross from six and then he should win and, even if he sits parked, he’ll probably still win.”
Captain Nemo showed he was right back to his best last week when he worked hard to park before taking the lead at the bell and holding his opposition with a minimum of effort to take the 2138 metre race in a 1:55.6 mile rate.
He drops back to the shorter 1660 metres on Saturday, the distance at which he all but caught hot pot Targaryen two starts back in a 1:53.4 mile rate.
Earlier in the night Tommy Lincoln faces another difficult test, drawn four in the free-for-all class race against the better performed pair Turn It Up and Blacksadance. “Tommy just can’t get a draw. He won’t cross Deus Ex in in one but if he can get in front of the other ones inside him he should end up getting cover.”
Dux expects Turn It Up to use his superior gate speed to cross to the front and at some stage he says Blacksadance should roll round to be outside the leader.
“It will come down to how soon Tommy gets cover. I just hope Blacksadance comes early and not at the half. Tommy can sit parked but he’s not quite so effective there.
“With luck he can finish top three or four. He can’t be going any better than he is and they’re not lengths better than him.”
Last week Tommy ran out of his skin, powering up to find the breeze and fighting right to the wire just 2.5 metres fourth to Rock Bottom.
Tommy Lincoln races at 10.06pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Captain Nemo races at 12.36pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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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.
