Don’t be fooled by laid back Captain Nemo - he’s far from done after Albion Park hat-trick
By Barry Lichter • 9 October 2021
Trainer Mark Dux has some good inside info for you on Captain Nemo.
While Lincoln Farms’ three-year-old notched a hat-trick at Albion Park on Friday night Dux says many people might have walked away thinking because he nearly got beaten he would not progress much further.
“But he’s very deceptive because he gets away from the pack and relaxes. He doesn’t want to run away - he’s happy to win by only half a length.
“Another lap and they wouldn’t have beaten him last night. It’s not a nice feeling when he switches off 30 metres from the post and you think, uh oh, he’s going to get run down.
“But when they get to his saddle you can feel him lift again and you know there’s more there. He put them away easily last night. He has a good will to win.”
Captain Nemo advanced three points to a 76 rating with his latest win but Dux says he has a long way to go before he reaches his mark.
“He’ll be a 100 rater by the time he’s done. We haven’t begun the Saturday nights yet where we can race him in the metropolitan races, the band races that Tommy Lincoln has been in.
“But I thought I’d run him through the grades before that. On Saturdays you go up five points.”
Dux has two options for Captain Nemo next week, either another Friday race or a three-year-old event on the Saturday night which might not get off the ground.
Mark Dux will have to relinquish the reins on Captain Nemo next week. PHOTO: Dan Costello.But wherever Dux chooses he will have to sit this one out after copping a 12-day suspension last night for an incident early in the race.
When Dux moved out on Captain Nemo to jump on the back of the three wide line, the driver in front grabbed hold, and he quickly moved back in, but not before the driver behind, Peter Grieg, had started to take up his spot on Beef City Blaze, who galloped when contacting his sulky.
Though Dux has won three straight on the horse since taking the reins, he says Captain Nemo is not hard to drive, you just have to understand his MO.
“But I’d actually like to see him in a race where they go crazy and he can sit back and attack late.”
Dux reports Captain Nemo pulled up well again after the race - “he’s in his paddock enjoying himself.
“It’s nice when you get horses going well for the owners. And he has plenty more wins in store.”
Having the time of his life following Captain Nemo is one of the partners Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street took in on the horse, well known golfer Gareth Paddison.
The Streets gifted Paddison an all expenses paid 10% share in the Captaintreacherous colt after he finished runner-up in the Wairakei Invitational pro-am at Taupo, which they sponsored in 2020.
The Streets’ other partners are the South Island’s Green Machine Syndicate, Grant Dickey and Ian Middleton.
With four wins in Queensland now, Captain Nemo’s record reads eight wins and seven placings from 37 starts for $69,565 in stakes.
More news in Harness
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Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
