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.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
Leo Lincoln, Spiritual Bliss, Missy Lincoln, Lincoln Wave, Johnny Lincoln.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
