Captain Nemo is training well after a freshen-up and primed to go on Saturday night. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Captain Nemo feeling super and ready to bounce back in Brisbane on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 10 February 2023
Captain Nemo is feeling super in his work, buoying trainer Mark Dux into thinking he is primed to show his best again at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Dux gave Lincoln Farms’ five-year-old a freshen-up after two lack-lustre runs last month when he showed none of his trademark grit.
But Nemo has really bounced back and, after landing in an easier field than he’s beaten this campaign - and up-to-rating 80 race, courtesy of the junior claim of Luke Whittaker - Dux rates him a good chance.
“You’re always a bit gun shy when they perform like he did in his last couple but it could have been that he just had two real tough runs in a row before that.
“I couldn’t say for sure what went wrong but I had a couple of others who raced ordinary at the same time. They had an easy time too and came back and raced well.
“Everything seems fine now, he’s picked himself up again, and feels on top of his game. I don’t have any complaints, I’m really happy with him.”
Dux, however, is unsure on how to have Nemo driven on Saturday night, given he’s drawn awkwardly in six.
“The alley’s a bit tricky. There’s a little bit of speed inside him but he’s a horse who wants to run the gate himself and, if you try to pull him back, you end up fighting him.
“He’ll have to do some work at some stage but that doesn’t seem to affect him much. We just have to hope for a good trip because, if he races like he can, I think he’s the best horse in the field.”
Tommy Lincoln has won his last two starts.Tommy Lincoln, while boasting back-to-back wins, isn’t the best horse in the field in his race, the ninth.
And Dux admits as soon as he saw the draw he was disappointed, with the two best horses, Mach Da Vinci and Blacksadance, drawn to lead and trail and be too good.
It was cruel that two of the best horses in the state could fare so well in a random draw, a constant theme that has kept Tommy out of the winner’s circle for much of this campaign, he said.
Dux can see no scenario where the two favourites won’t dominate.
“If the one (Mach Da Vinci) takes a trail behind Balcksadance you won’t beat them, they’ll run one-two.
“If Shane Graham thinks Mach Da Vinci is going well enough to park the other one, with no second line the two might just hop on his back and it will be the same result. They could run a 54 last half and we can’t give them a start at that speed.
“If we can run third, I’ll be happy but Governor Jujon is a nice horse too, and he’s been trialling really well.”
Back from a 12-month spell, the former top three-year-old and 22-race winner has, however, drawn wide.
“We could run fourth. It will come down to what trips everyone gets. It certainly brings you back to earth after two great wins.
“But I’m sure Tommy will race well, he always does.”
Captain Nemo races at 9.48pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Tommy Lincoln races at 12.36am NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
