Captain Nemo has had the ultimate gear change and it is hoped he will race better as a gelding. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Captain Nemo torpedoed astern leaving Argyle to chase the diamonds at Albion Park
By Barry Lichter • 5 May 2023
Captain Nemo doesn’t realise it yet but he came back from the vet clinic yesterday minus some extraneous gear.
The five-year-old earned a small reprieve from being gelded with a close second last month but Brisbane trainer Mark Dux finally called time on his days as a colt.
“There’s no benefit for him being a colt. He’s better off a gelding, he’ll be a better racehorse.
“We did it at the clinic in case something went wrong, as he’s an older horse, but all’s well. He got home yesterday afternoon and, while a bit stiff and sore, he was very bright and is eating well.
“He doesn’t quite know he’s a gelding yet, that will take a month to six weeks (when his testosterone levels drop).”
Captain Nemo has won seven races in Queensland for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and their partners, often doing it tough, but lost form in the last four months and started to prove a bit of a handful.
“Hopefully he might turn the corner now and race like the Nemo of old.”
The newest stable recruit, Argyle, was gelded long before he transferred from Lincoln Farms to Dux and while his form has been patchy, it’s not through lack of trying, rather difficulty in finding the right race for him.
On Saturday night at Albion Park he looks to be up against it again, drawn badly in six against tough opposition.
“He has a shocking alley in a very strong race,” says Dux. “Some of these horses are going places.
“While he’s a nice horse, he’s not going to the top and you don’t win from bad draws unless you’re exceptional. You need the right trip when you’re going these fast times.”
Argyle paced a tidy 1:53.26 mile rate for 1660 metres last start but could finish only seventh behind Future Assured, who clocked a swift 1:51.3.
“I know he ran only seventh but I was really happy with the run. He was four deep from the draw then held up a couple of times.
“The winner is a nice horse but we ran second to it once so it’s not like we can’t go with it.” In his first start in the state last November, Argyle chased home Future Assured in the Group III Sunshine Stars Classic.
Dux can see Saturday’s race being run at another hectic clip with My Ultimate Byron again engaged.
“My Ultimate Byron could nearly lead the way it wanted to run last time, he couldn’t hang on to it.”
Dux says he’s really happy with Argyle and his recent work and, had he drawn closer to the inside, he’d have rated him some sort of a chance.
“From six you know you’re up against it though. I don’t expect him to win from there - he’d need a lot of luck and a good drive - but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him run well.”
Argyle races at 8.48pm 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.”
