Angus Garrard is back on Captain Nemo at Albion Park on Thursday. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
This morning’s work like the Nemo of old but Thursday’s draw is more than cruel
By Barry Lichter • 14 May 2024
Captain Nemo’s work this morning showed he’s back to his old self but trainer Mark Dux knows the horse is right up against it from a punishing second row draw at Albion Park on Thursday.
Dux knew all was not well with Captain Nemo when he dropped out badly in his last run 17 days ago, finishing 47 metres from the winner.
Though he had a tough trip, having to work hard to find the death seat, Dux said Nemo would still normally have fought for all he was worth.
“It’s not like him to stop like that so I knew straight away something wasn’t right with him. Maybe the bug he’d had earlier in the month was still lingering.
“But he felt like the old Nemo when he worked today. He dashed up nicely, and wanted to do it, and that’s when you know he’s feeling all right.
“We only ran up the straight but he ran a quick last furlong in 13.1 and felt real good.”
Dux says he hasn’t drilled Nemo since his uncharacteristic flop but all seemed to be good with the horse again who had been racing much better than his formline suggested.
That doesn’t mean, however, that Nemo will be driven hard on Thursday when he will be reunited with top young gun Angus Garrard.
“We won’t be out there to make something happen. We’ll drive him cold and, if we have some luck, great.
“It’s not a super hard field, and I could see him finishing really strongly, but it will come down to luck. Art Jester, alongside us, is one of the main dangers, so we might get a reasonable run into the race.”
Captain Nemo races at 5.43pm NZ time at Albion Park on Thursday.
More news in Harness
Prince set to sign off 2025 in style but Ray tips out two specials to follow in the New Year
Spiritual Bliss notches hat-trick and pushes Lincoln Farms’ season tally to record 43
Hubby nearly in the dog box after Tyson delivers Debbie a Golden Gait knockout blow
Debbie lands Golden draw at last in her bid to give Sampson a haircut at the Park
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Wednesday at Auckland
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
5.10pm
“I can’t believe he’s not picked in four (on the HRNZ website). He actually headed Cyclone Rebel last start but switched off. We’ve added sliding blinds which seem to have helped in training and he’s got to be a good each-way chance. He just needs a bit of luck from six on the gate.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
5.10pm
“He’ll need some luck from the outside but hopefully he can still get a cheque. He doesn’t have as much speed as Prince Lincoln.”
Race 7: Spiritual Bliss
6pm
“I think she’ll be able to handle the rise in class. She’s a pretty good mare who keeps finding when the pressure goes on. It won’t be easy but she has a good draw and has already run a mile in 1:55.3.”
Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
6pm
“It’s hard to know how she compares with Spiritual Bliss but I think they’re both chances. Debbie Lincoln is still the fastest three-year-old to win over 1700 metres around Alexandra Park and she was excellent again when just pipped by Tyson last time.”
Race 12: Tyson
8.38pm
“The rise in class won’t stop him. If they go a bit harder, he can still run a 56 half off a solid pace. He’s improving all the time, more than I thought he would. He could easily win again.”
Race 12: Leo Lincoln
8.38pm
“We threw him in the deep end first-up when he really needed another trial. That race will bring him on a bit but I think he’ll need another before we see him at his best.”
