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Angus Garrard has his work cut out on Captain Nemo from five on the gate on Wednesday.

It’s all up to Angus - Brisbane’s young gun needs to drive a pearler on Nemo at Redcliffe

Drawing wide on the front line at Redcliffe isn’t quite what trainer Mark Dux was hoping for with Captain Nemo this week.

But despite not being suited by the tight triangular track, Dux isn’t completely ruling out his chances in the opener on Wednesday evening - he just needs young gun Angus Garrard to produce a top drawer drive.

“I had him in at Albion Park today and Friday and couldn’t get a start,” Dux said.

“I didn’t think we’d get in at Redcliffe either but a few dropped out. If your form is down a little, it’s near impossible to get a run with all the interstate horses here.

“It’s a reasonable field on Wednesday, they’re not push-overs, but they’re all beatable. It will all come down to who gets the right trip.

“If we have something go our way we could get some of it as there’s not a lot between them and I don’t think he’s far off now.”

Dux was very happy with Captain Nemo’s second-up run over 2138 metres on July 12 when he made up good ground from the back to be only 11.5 metres from the winner in sixth.

Timed over his last mile in 1:55.77, his closing sectionals of 56.03 and 28 were almost identical to those of the leaders.

“He raced really well, he took the gaps and went between them and just knocked up the last bit, which I thought he would.

“We’ve got a bad draw again and there’s a bit of speed inside us - I think they’ll all come out pretty hard - so I’ll tell Angus to just play it by ear.

“If he thinks he’s got to get going, he might have to go a bit earlier than we’ve been driving him.

“I know we shouldn’t drive him tough but we will have to poke him there at some stage.

“The track doesn’t suit him but we’ll make the most of the cards we’ve been dealt.”

Captain Nemo races at 7.17pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday evening.Captain Nemo races at 7.17pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday evening.

Our runners this week

Friday night at Cambridge

Lincoln Lover, Prince Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Lincoln Lou, Sugar Ray Lincoln (scratched).

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Manawatu

Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm

“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”

Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm

“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”

Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm

“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”

Race Images - Harness