Captain Nemo, once so quiet, has suddenly realised he is a colt, and it’s not helping his racing. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
No, no Nemo. Mark delivers ultimatum: Last chance tomorrow or it’s off to the vet for you
By Barry Lichter • 17 April 2023
Captain Nemo is in for the unkindest cut of all unless he blows his opposition away at Albion Park on Tuesday evening.
After placing in only one of his last eight starts, trainer Mark Dux says Captain Nemo has run out of time to show he can still perform as a colt.
Tuesday’s ninth race is his last chance and, as easily the highest rated runner in the field, Dux says the Nemo of old would be right in it, outside draw and all.
Rated 75, Nemo gets into the up to 70 rating race with concession claiming junior Paige Bevan in the cart.
Paige Bevan, who has 29 winners to her credit, drives Captain Nemo on Tuesday.It’s easily the weakest field he’s tackled in the last few months but Dux isn’t holding his breath for a change of form.
“I just don’t think that he’s racing they way she should be. His work has been good enough to think he should race well but you take him to the track and he lets you down.
“I know they went hard last week (1:53 mile rate) but he was gone way too far from home. It was like he didn’t put in.”
Dux says Nemo has turned into a real colt at home, screaming every time he takes him somewhere - to the paddock, the walker, out of the paddock, it’s non stop.
“He’s carrying on all the time which is not helping the cause. In the early days he was never like this. He didn’t know he was a colt when he got here and he was quiet as anything for the first 12 months. Then all of a sudden late last year he started carrying on like a pork chop.
“We’re definitely going to geld him if we’re not happy with him tomorrow. He’s already booked in. I’m sure he’ll be better as a gelding once we eliminate all those things.
“Unless he blows them away, I don’t think we have any options.”
You only have to look at how some of the horses Nemo used to beat, or finish alongside, have progressed in the last few months to realise Nemo isn’t putting in, he says.
Dux has, however, made a few changes this week which he hopes might help.
“We’ve got pull down blinds on him - he wore them last week but Angus (Garrard) didn’t activate them because he was beaten so soon.
“I’ve tried training him more steadily this week, with no fast work and I’ll tell Paige to drive him quietly early and see if he can run home.”
Captain Nemo races at 7.47pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
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Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
