Captain Nemo, outer, rallies bravely last week to just go under.
Second row draws make it tricky on Saturday night but Nemo and Argyle are in great trim
By Barry Lichter • 2 February 2024
Argyle and Captain Nemo both went close to winning at Albion Park last week but second row draws on Saturday night could consign them to collecting only place money again this week.
Argyle’s effort to run second to $151 outsider Murphy’s Reward last Saturday thrilled trainer Mark Dux after he launched on a solo three wide run from the back and came up only half a neck short with a 55.44 last half.
And Captain Nemo was also right at the top of his game, rallying bravely in the run home to finish just 4.4 metres and half a head from the winner Windy Hill Wally after being given a sweet one-out-two-back trip by gun junior Angus Garrard.
Dux fancies Nemo as the better winning chance this week but says whether he can break through in the fourth race will be determined by the tactics employed by the driver of the pole horse Stormtide, whom he follows out.
“The one horse has gate speed, if they want to use it, and if he leads that would be perfect for us. But I’ve got the feeling he will hand up, because they did that on Tuesday and he ran a good second.
“If they take a trail, it puts us three fence, which is still a winnable spot, but we’ll need the leaders to go strong and we’ll have to get the run at the right time.”
Dux expects Nemo to run top three but says he’s primed to win as soon as he gets the right trip.
“He just kept coming last week - he doesn’t give up very often - and Angus thought he could have won had another horse not take the inside run he was aiming for.”
Dux doesn’t believe his other runner Key Largo can beat Nemo the way the pair worked this week.
“It’s his first run back for a little while and he’s a weird horse. He can run, and he’s won nearly $200,000, but he doesn’t always go as well as he should.”
Argyle (10) sustains a long run to just miss.Top three
One race earlier, Argyle also looks a top three chance and Dux says he’ll be driven conservatively to earn the biggest cheque possible.
The way the race sets up, Dux says pole runner So Sirius should lead and OK Boomer, behind him on the gate, should trail, which is why they’ll start favourites.
“Argyle will find it hard to win from two the second row but if we go straight to the fence he’s a good chance to run top three. We just have to hope they go hard the last half so the ones out wide get off the bit.
“If he stays in the running line, and they go slow, he’s no hope as he’s against pretty decent horses.
“I reckon they kept So Sirius for this race as it’s a $21,000 stake, and he’s been lucky enough to draw one. He ran second last time and sat outside the leader.
“I’m sure he’ll be trying to lead but the one who could upset things is Jaccka Wally, who has a lot of gate speed. He could charge out and cross but he can do things wrong and the driver couldn’t chase him out the other day because he put in a few funny steps.”
Argyle will be handled by a new driver in Trent Dawson with Garrard sticking to Bangkok Deejay, winner of his last three starts.
“Bangkok Deejay can win again depending on how the race is run. But if So Sirius leads and backs off the pace, he probably can’t beat him.”
Argyle races at 9.50pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Captain Nemo races at 10.22pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
The dream’s alive but Nate tells why he’ll wait for ‘Harry’ before racing Eric again
Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
