Captain Nemo is brave in staving off The Peacemaker in his last visit to Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.
Captain Nemo well placed to salute the judge again at Cambridge on Thursday night
By Barry Lichter • 27 January 2021
From the pole position improving pacer Captain Nemo looks the one to beat in the eighth race at Cambridge on Thursday night.
Captain Nemo ran a good fourth at Auckland last week, where he has previously struggled going right-handed, and has an excellent record at Cambridge with two wins, a second and a fourth in strong Sires’ Stakes company from only four starts.
“We took the spreaders off him last week at Auckland and he didn’t touch his knee but he’s obviously better left-handed at Cambridge,” says Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green.
“He’s definitely the one to beat from that draw.”
Captain Nemo scored on his last visit to Cambridge two starts back when, after sitting parked early, driver David Butcher took him to the front 1200 metres from home.
Though challenged hotly in the run home, the Captaintreacherous three-year-old responded bravely to stave off The Peacemaker by a neck.
In his previous start he ran second at Cambridge to Dixie Reign, looping the field to sit parked from the 900, while the leader was gifted soft sectionals in front.
Gareth Paddison with his gift horse Captain Nemo.Green expects the powerfully built Captain Nemo to keep improving with racing and the quality of the field he meets on Thursday is well down on that at Auckland last week when former southerner Makara paced the mobile 2200 metres in 2:41.8, excellent time for a low grade.
Captain Nemo had to run only 2:44.2 to win at Cambridge at his previous start.
Captain Nemo is raced in partnership by Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street with the Green Machine Syndicate, Grant Dickey, Peter Dougherty, Ian Middleton and accomplished golfer Gareth Paddison who was gifted a share by the Streets after finishing second in the Wairakei Invitational last year.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 7: Im Not The Maid
8.15pm
“She couldn’t knick off a perfect trip last time in the amateur race so I won’t be holding my breath here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Leo Lincoln
5.53pm
“It looks like it will be a replica of his last two runs. He needs to drop down a class.”
Race 2: Kevin Kline
5.53pm
“I think he’lll go another good race but you couldn’t make a case for him to beat the two favourites (American Me or Mantra Blue). If he ran third, I’d be rapt. He’s very genuine and his form reflects that.”
Race 3: The Rascal
6.24pm
“We’ve chucked him in the deep end - he’s a maiden against race winners - but he’s improving all the time. Fergy had difficulty steering him last time and said if he could have got him out, he would have won. We’ve made little changes to his gear this time and I think he’s a serious contender.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.26pm
“He feels super in his work. I’m really pleased with him. I know he hasn’t lived up to his early promise but the way he’s training he might now be ready to realise it.”
Race 9: Dreams Of Eric
9.32pm
“He wasn’t handling the right-handed going so well, which was why he switched to racing at Cambridge, but he’s a genuine little guy, a strong colt with a bit of speed. I think he’s a chance, it’s just the draw, but it’s only a small field.”
