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
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.58pm
“Drawn out wide makes it tough over 1700 metres but he’s been making his own luck. He’s not brilliant out but if he pushes on to be handy he’s got to be a big chance again. He needs to be up there on the pace or he doesn’t try too hard.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.57pm
“You can’t fault what Sugar Ray’s been doing lately, and he’s been getting out with them, so he has to be a serious chance from the inside.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.57pm
“Kev and Sugar Ray are pretty much on a par. Kev never goes a bad race, he’s just such a professional.”
Race 7: Johnny Lincoln
8.23pm
“He’s been racing too keenly but he won’t pull this time. We’ve got a different bit on him so Maurice will have him under control.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm
“He’ll need to get stronger and you couldn’t see him beating Fugitive from the outside of the arm.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.48pm
“It will be interesting to see what she can do from a good draw - she’s got some speed and if she holds up early she’ll get a good trip. But she, too, needs to get stronger.”
