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
‘The Kid’ flying but Argyle up against it to add good points in novel drivers’ challenge
Street’s emotion-charged night in the winners’ room - sad loss before a record four wins
It’s green jackets all the way and Ray fancies improving surprise packet Prince Lincoln
The Lincoln Wave secret is well and truly out now, but who was that mystery underbidder?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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.
