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
By Barry Lichter • 23 July 2024
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.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Addington
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
4.03pm
“She’s drawn out but I think she’s got the gate speed to be put into the race. You’ve got to be handy to beat the good ones and we don’t want to be stuck behind some of the others. The one drawn two inside us, Arafura, looks the one to beat but Debbie is as good as anything in the race in my opinion. It’s not going to be easy but I’m hopeful. She’s done well down here and is in good shape.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 5: Im Not The Maid
6.17pm
“The draw helps and while she’s very honest she still needs to improve. Gary Hall said she was a bit stop-start last time but he cut corners and wasn’t too far away at the finish. He reckoned his toe rope broke at the top of the straight.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
7.49pm
“She showed no speed when resuming and it’s hard to see her playing a part in this.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
7.49pm
“She went the best of them last time, was hampered turning or home, and could improve.”
Race 8: Jessie Lincoln
7.49pm
“She’s a big filly but so far, so good. There are a few negatives, like the second row draw and it being her first time under lights, but I think she could go quite well. It’s not a wonderful lot against her and she’s training well.”
Race 8: Lincoln’s Spice
7.49pm
“She over-raced early first-up and burned herself out. She’s a delicate little thing but we’ll put some plugs in her this week. Last time in I thought she could be the best of them. Whether the others have caught her up or she’s gone backwards I don’t know.”
