Argyle, outer, just misses after a brave run sitting parked at Albion Park last week.
Tough draws and tough fields make it hard for Captain Nemo and Argyle on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 28 April 2023
Captain Nemo still has the knife hanging over his head but on Saturday night in a tough field, from a tough draw, trainer Mark Dux won’t be condemning him if he fails.
And neither will Dux slate Argyle if he doesn’t get a go in his race at Albion Park given he has also drawn to need a lot of luck.
Dux says it’s a shame both horses look to have very difficult tasks, given how well they raced at their last starts.
Captain Nemo staved off being gelded when he came from last with a big late run to be pipped just a metre, and Argyle put his previous shocking run behind him with a gutsy second, denied by just a head.
Dux says from three on the second row this week, Angus Garrard will drive Captain Nemo cold again.
“They did go hard early last time, which suited him, but we’ll drive him quietly again and let him run home, that’s all we can do.
“I know you can’t win from the back but we can’t launch all the time, we’ve got to pick our race.
“He’s got nothing going for him on Saturday but I still think he’ll race well as he came through the run well and his work has been good. But he’ll need a lot of luck.”
Dux says the question of whether to geld Captain Nemo is always in the back of his mind but he should escape execution this week.
Argyle, who is handicapped by the inside second row draw in the seventh race, thrilled Dux with his turnaround in form last week.
Three wide to the death early, Argyle fought bravely in the stretch, topped off late only by the horse who had enjoyed a perfect trail.
“He had to do a bit of work but he pulled up super, the best ever. He blew for ages after his previous race (when Dux believes he cut off his wind) but it was like chalk and cheese last week. Within 20 minutes you wouldn’t have known he’d raced.
“It’s a tougher field this week but I’m not worried about dropping back to the shorter trip (1660m). We’ll just have to drive him for luck, follow through, play it by ear, and hope the splits come when we need them.
“You can’t drag all the way back and try to get to the outside. I’ve done that before and afterwards thought ‘that was a bad thing to do’.
“You never know, we might get off the fence and be able to work into the race.”
Dux reports Tommy Lincoln is having a 10-day freshener after his scheduled race this week again didn’t go ahead.
“He’s not tired, he doesn’t feel tired, but he’s been up a long time and a wee break won’t hurt him.
“He’ll be back in work next week.”
Captain Nemo races at 8.10pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Argyle races at 10.10pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
