Argyle, third from the top, is swallowed up late at Albion Park at his last start.
Argyle out of action, injured, and barrier draw will take Nemo out of play too on Saturday
By Barry Lichter • 18 April 2024
In-form Argyle will be out of action for a few months after injuring a suspensory ligament in his last race at Albion Park in Brisbane.
Argyle paced a terrific race in front and was gobbled up only in the last 50 metres, finishing a close fifth, but he was noticeably short in his action on pulling up.
And when his off front leg blew up quite quickly afterwards, trainer Mark Dux knew the five-year-old was looking at a holiday.
“I’ve been wrapping it and treating it for the last fortnight and you can see a bit of definition now in the leg, which is a good sign, as it was like a stove pipe before.
“These things normally take a while to settle down but I’m pretty hopeful as it’s not the worst injury.
“If you had to have an injury, it’s the best one to have. I’m a lot more confident with a suspensory than a tendon.”
Depending on the rate of healing, Dux expects Argyle to be sidelined for three or four months.
“We’ll take it in baby steps. He’s confined to box at the moment with a small adjoining walk-in walk-out yard, enough space for him to move around without being stupid.
“When I’m happy with his improvement he can go out to a small paddock.
“Watching him wander around you wouldn’t know he was sore. He seems a million dollars and he’s still in charge when you walk him.”
Dux said Argyle had done well in recent months, consistently running times little inferior to the free-for-all pacers in Queensland.
“He might not have the acceleration of the free-for-allers but he’s strong enough. Hopefully we can get another couple of preps out of him.”
Argyle banked A$46,250 this last prep, taking his career record to eight wins from 48 starts for A$102,919.
Captain Nemo … lines up from the outside of the front line on Saturday night.Stablemate Captain Nemo is in the early stages of a new prep and Dux said he’s been having trouble getting races for him.
“He was balloted out last Saturday, his race didn’t go ahead on Tuesday, and now he’s got barrier 12 on Saturday night.”
Captain Nemo takes on a strong and even lot in the band 5 second race and was luckless in the random draw, landing the outside of the second line.
“We can’t make too much happen from that alley. We’ll need something to go our way in the running. But I’m more than happy with him - he’s come on really well since his first-up run, he’s felt really good in training.”
The record book shows Captain Nemo beat only two home on April 6, just under 22 metres from the winner Amami, but that hardly reflects the merit of his effort.
Captain Nemo, back among the tailenders from a wide gate, was clocked over his last mile of the 2138 metres in 1:55.99, home in 57.46 - and he covered an extra 36 metres in the running.
Amami clocked an almost identical 1:56.02 and 56.94 home.
“It wasn’t a bad run and, while it’s very hard to predict how things will pan out on Saturday, he’ll run a race, regardless of the draw.”
Captain Nemo races at 7.54pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
