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Captain Nemo (pink saddlecloth) rushes home for a close fifth when clear late last start.

Captain Nemo running fast sectionals and just needs some luck from dreaded outside draw

Ignore the 3965 form line - Captain Nemo needs only a little luck from the outside of the gate to win at Albion Park on Tuesday evening.

The Captaintreacherous five-year-old gets into the sixth race as the highest equal rated horse and his recent sixth and fifth placings hide some fast sectionals.

Two starts back, when driven by 21-year-old claiming junior Paige Bevan, Nemo went back from the outside gate and came from well back for fifth, running the fastest middle 800 (57.52), the fastest last 800 (55.92) and fastest last 400 (27.77).

And last week his fifth was also much better than it might appear on paper, when he started from the inside of the second row for 16-year-old claimer Layne Dwyer.

Nemo’s sectionals were again right up with the dividend-payers when after being trapped four deep on the pegs, he angled out in the run home, doing his best work when clear to be just 4.4 metres from the winner who clocked a fast 1:52.9 mile rate.

Nemo’s only disappointing run in four starts back, says trainer Mark Dux, was when he was driven hard, three wide to the death seat at the bell.

“He’s going way better when we go back and drive him quietly and that’s what Angus (Garrard) will do on Tuesday.

“It will all depend on how hard they go but he should be hard to beat. His last two runs have been very good and I really think he’s right up to (winning) it. His work has been terrific and I’m really happy with him.

“It’s not a bad race by any stretch but with a bit of luck he’ll be right in it.”

Dux rates second line runners Amami and Rocktagonal hard to beat, along with the pole runner and likely pacemaker Luvbite who, while a serial placegetter, won two starts back when able to lead.

Captain Nemo races at 6.07pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.Captain Nemo races at 6.07pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Cambridge

Race 2: Dreams Of Eric
4.53pm

“He’s drawn out a bit this week but I don’t think that will worry him too much. The driver’s pretty confident and we’ve got hopple shorteners on him to help him burn off the gate. Zac was pretty happy with his run last time. He only did what he needed to and there’s not much difference in the quality of the field. That one of Andre’s who beat him last time (St John Eight) is quite a nice horse who’d been racing well at Auckland.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 3: Angelic Copy
6.09pm

Update: Scratched

“There is some doubt over whether she will start and we’re taking blood tomorrow morning to see how she is. We eliminated the tie-up problem but after she trained below par this week we took a blood and it showed she had a virus.”

Race 3: Lincoln Linda
6.09pm

“She’ll need a lot of luck from the outside of the second row. She was too fierce again last time, but I’m hoping the likely faster pace on Friday will suit her.”

Race 4: Lincoln Lover
6.40pm

“Lincoln Lover isn’t training as well as Prince Lincoln but he has the inside draw to help him. And he’s a tough little bugger who’s not one to shirk his responsibilities.”

Race 4: Prince Lincoln
6.40pm

“If I had to choose between them I’d say Prince Lincoln is the better chance. He’s training very well and he’d be a chance of getting some of it with luck from his wide gate.”

Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.23pm

“I’m not holding my breath. He’s gone some handy races against the very best but he’s not in career best form. I’m just hoping the 2700 metres might suit him better. I think he might need a decent break.”

Whales Harness