Trainer Mark Dux plans to put Captain Nemo into the race early at Albion Park on Friday. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Improved barrier at least gives Nemo a chance but poor old Tommy’s out of luck again
By Barry Lichter • 7 April 2022
Captain Nemo’s improved draw gives him a chance at Albion Park on Friday but it looks curtains again for Tommy Lincoln.
Trainer Mark Dux was hoping for better luck this week after terrible draws last Friday predictably saw both Lincoln Farms horses run 10th.
But while Nemo fared better in four in the fourth race, Tommy is again stranded at six on the gate in race nine, a strong open pace.
Last week as a last-start winner of a $20,000 race, Tommy was victim of the conditions which handicapped horses on earnings in their last three starts. This time, with a random barrier draw, he still came up with six.
“We’ve got no choice but to go back and drive him cold,” Dux said. “There’s too much speed inside him.”
Angus Garrard … no option but to go back on Tommy Lincoln.Dux said Tommy Lincoln simply had to do too much work early in his race last week - three wide to the death on a sizzling 27 first quarter and 56.2 first half.
It wasn’t surprising he was under pressure before the home turn after rejuvenated former Lincoln Farms hero Northview Hustler let rip in front and careered away to a 1:51.5 mile rate win.
Nemo going forward
Dux says while driver Angus Garrard will just have to go back and play it by ear on Friday, he himself can be more forceful on Captain Nemo.
“I plan to drive him up handy and I give him an each way chance. It mightn’t have looked good last week but he didn’t go bad, his last half was the same as the winner.”
Dux said he knew he was in trouble when the favourite Big Wheels was allowed to amble through a lead time in 39.1, and he saw the second favourite Watt’s Up Sunshine sitting outside the leader.
“He wasn’t going to hand up that position so I had to sit back. Otherwise I would have had to send him a long way from home, killed him and still got no money.”
Instead Dux was forced to improve wide around the home turn, a near impossible task.
“You just can’t make ground on them. As it was he clocked 55.12 and 27.88 compared with winner’s 55.06 and 27.86. A couple on the fence went a bit quicker, but nothing out wide was as good.
“When you get that far back it’s fine if they go crazy but if they don’t in these higher grades they can all run a quick last half and you can’t get into the race.
“He’s done well this week and he just needs an ounce of luck.”
Nemo’s task won’t be easy though as 16-win mare Pelosi is in form and perfectly slotted in gate two.
Pelosi, an Albion Park winner last Friday in a 1:54.4 mile rate and a 1:52.2 winner at Menangle before that, would be familiar to Kiwi punters after her spring campaign in New Zealand last year.
The mare did not win in five starts but ran seconds to topliners Darling Me in a 1:51.4 mile at Ashburton and Stylish Memphis in 1:55.8 mile rate at Addington.
Captain Nemo races at 3.33pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
Tommy Lincoln races at 6.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
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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.
