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.
More news in Harness
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Ray cautions punters with no lead this time for Jekyll and Hyde colt Prince Lincoln
Two (not so) secret weapons help Lincoln Farms to $29,287 payday at Cambridge
Deb dresses her latest ‘Copy’ weanling in white and he delivers a Major coup
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
