Wide alley hoodoo and Queensland’s big wet conspire against Argyle and Nemo
By Barry Lichter • 19 January 2024
Don’t expect Argyle and Captain Nemo to feature at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Trainer Mark Dux says not only will wide draws again minimise their chances but the continuous wet weather has also hampered their preparation.
“I planned to train Argyle twice this week but only did once. We’ve had storms nearly every night and had that much rain, it’s left surface water on the track.
“We’re right on the coast and get all the coastal rain. It’s been horrendous and the humidity today was an absolute shocker.
“You walk and you sweat. The horses are feeling it too. It definitely knocks some of them around.
“I raced one yesterday and had to hose her five times during the day. You’re forever trying to keep them cool.”
Dux says Argyle has so many things against him in the opening race on Saturday night he’ll have to be driven conservatively, unlike his last start, when he powered forward and sat parked throughout for a close third.
“If he’d been racing week in and week out, I wouldn’t have been frightened to put him in the race. I’m happy enough with him but it’s his first for six weeks so he’s not at his best.”
Dux was forced to back off Argyle in mid-December to allow him time to recover from an infection in his foot.
“He’s fine again now but we’ll drive him quietly, go back and hope for a little luck.
“It’s a good, strong field and he doesn’t need to be ripping round them in his first run back. He’ll be relying on how hard they go.”
Captain Nemo again draws the outside of the gate in the eighth race.
“I’ve lost count of how many times he’s drawn badly. The ones inside him have all got gate speed so we’ll drive him quietly early too. He can’t be three and four wide when they’re running a 27 quarter.
“He’ll come out steady and then we’ll play it by ear. I’m confident he’ll race well - he trained well this week - and at some stage I’m sure Angus (Garrard) will try to make his own luck.”
Argyle races at 8.43pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Captain Nemo races at 12.19am NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
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Nate having a last spin round on his wee mate Eric - and he’s in with a very good chance
Resilient Lincoln Farms’ three-year-olds Tyson and Kevin Kline doing breeder proud
Nate: Write off Kevin Kline again at your peril - he’s not that fast but he just keeps going
Our runners this week
Thursday twilight at Manawatu
Lincoln Maree, LIncoln Downs, Spiritual Bliss.
Friday night at Auckland
Tyson, Sugar Ray Lincoln, Prince Lincoln, Johnny Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Lincoln Lover.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.17pm
“She’s a real little trier who just lacks a yard of speed and that’s why she’s down there. She’s training as good as she can.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
5.07pm
“She’s coming on well, drives well and does everything correctly, she just needs to get a trip from the second row. She had to come five wide round the home turn at Cambridge behind Amercan Falcon. It wouldn’t surprise me if she could sneak into the money.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
5.32pm
“We’ve had her only two weeks so we’re very much in the dark, not having seen her in race mode. She’s a good looking mare who trains quite nicely but the two wins from 39 starts in the South Island doesn’t read well and she’s got a difficult second row draw.”
