Captain Nemo has won five races in Brisbane, one at Redcliffe. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Don’t let the form line fool you, the Captain should be right in the fight on Wednesday
By Barry Lichter • 19 April 2022
Captain Nemo’s form might look like it’s tailed off but don’t let that fool you when he lines up at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.
The way Captain Nemo has been training, trainer Mark Dux says he’ll be disappointed if the horse doesn’t finish in the money in the fourth race.
Lincoln Farms’ tough campaigner lines up in a heat of an up-to-rating 90 series, where qualifiers from five races in April compete for a A$20,770 stake over 1660 metres at Albion Park on Saturday week.
If he misses the cut, Nemo will be eligible for a A$10,820 consolation the same night.
“It won’t be any pushover for him on Wednesday - it’s not his favourite track and it’s a reasonable field - but I’m really happy with him, he’s done terrific since his last run.”
That race, 11 days ago, when he finished last, was a complete forgive, says Dux.
Sent forward from four on the gate, Captain Nemo was trapped three wide round the first corner on a brutal 26.9 first quarter.
And when Dux tried to push Nemo up outside the leader, the driver of the parked horse refused to relent.
“I thought the guy would be happy to take cover but he obviously thought I wasn’t a good horse to follow. I don’t know where he got that idea from given how tough Nemo races all the time.”
Eased back to the rear, Nemo still couldn’t get in and when Dux tried to improve down the back straight, there was nobody home. Beaten before the home turn, Nemo finished 36 metres from the winner.
“Nothing went right for him but I’m expecting him to run really well this time.”
With Wednesday’s race drawn on earnings in their last four starts, Nemo gets an OK alley of two on the second row, as a consquence of finishing out of the money in his last three.
“I’m happy with that draw,” says Dux. “I’ll follow out the two horse (Artful Maid) and should get a good run through.
“Hemsworth is going well but has drawn wide which isn’t ideal over 1780 metres at Redcliffe.”
Captain Nemo races at 9.06pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 9: Kevin Kline
9.55pm
“When Maurice asked him to go at the top of the straight at Cambridge he got lost and didn’t quite know what to do. He wound up well in the end but just left it a little late. He’ll learn from that and should go well again.”
Race 10: Debbie Lincoln
10.22pm
“She has ability but she’s a work in progress. She’s fast but she needs to harness it. She gets a little claustrophobic when they come around her so the mission on Friday will be to get round without her doing anything stupid. She’s a much stronger individual now than when she started off in April.”
