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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 Manawatu

Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm

“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”

Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm

“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”

Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm

“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Cambridge

Race 2: Lincoln Lover
5.33pm

“He had no chance last start when trapped three wide all the way. That won’t happen this time from the inside draw so that gives him a chance to get some of it.”

Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.33pm

“He’s shown no gate speed so the wide draw doesn’t matter. He’s coming along all right but will need lots of luck against the hot pots.”

Race 5: Debbie Lincoln
6.54pm

“She seems to have overcome her tying-up issue, her bloods are good, and she’s training well again. She could possibly be underdone and the seven draw makes it very hard.”

Race 6: Lincoln Lou
7.20pm

Scratched. Sold to Western Australia.

Race Images - Harness