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
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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.
