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Layne Dwyer is still at school but has driven 30 winners in the last eight months.

Tricky draw for Nemo and young Layne but they can get some of it with luck in the run

A wide barrier draw will make things tough for Captain Nemo and his young driver Layne Dwyer at Albion Park on Friday night but he’s racing well enough to get some of the money, says trainer Mark Dux.

Captain Nemo is the second highest rated pacer in the opening race but will score up for 16-year-old Dwyer from six on the gate. And Dux says that means the junior claimer will have to play it by ear on whether he lets the horse run the gate or look for a trail.

“He’ll have to make that decision on how he feels but I’m picking they’ll roll along a bit.

“R Eleven Art, who has drawn inside him, is going better than his form suggests and I can see Angus Garrard pressing forward on him. He can run a bit of time too.

“The other main one he has to beat is The Tax Cullector, who won Argyle’s race the other night and hit the line well. But he’s got the 10 alley.”

Dux says just like last week when young drivers’ championship rep Emily Suvaljko baled out of the early rush on Nemo because they were going at lunatic speed, Dwyer might have to do the same.

“He just doesn’t want too far back because if they run home quick he’ll be in trouble.

“Nemo has never been a horse to run the bends well - he always hangs a bit. He could have run a place last week, instead of finishing fourth (in a 1:52.8 mile rate), had he not lost so much ground on the turn.

“He’s definitely a hope, as he’s done well since, but it’s just a matter of where he lands.”

Dwyer, a son of Brisbane trainer Graham Dwyer, is the minimum age that a harness driver can be in Australia and wasted no time in landing his first winner in April, just 13 days after being licensed. He is still at school but has driven 30 winners in the last eight months and has piloted Nemo once before, in September. After starting from the inside of the second row, he was buried four deep and held up early in the run home, but finished fast when clear for a close fifth.

Dux reports Argyle will be fit to race on Saturday week after a minor foot issue on race morning cost him a start last week.

“He came out of his box on Saturday morning and couldn’t walk properly. His leg was up, whether some moisture got into a little crack in his foot, I’m not sure. “Once it was cleaned up it quickly got better and he’s fine now.”

Dux said he’s waiting to consult the vet about the future of Tommy Lincoln after his leg was scanned in his absence yesterday, the suspicion he has a tendon injury.

Captain Nemo races at 8.48pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.Captain Nemo races at 8.48pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Cambridge

Race 2: Dreams Of Eric
4.53pm

“He’s drawn out a bit this week but I don’t think that will worry him too much. The driver’s pretty confident and we’ve got hopple shorteners on him to help him burn off the gate. Zac was pretty happy with his run last time. He only did what he needed to and there’s not much difference in the quality of the field. That one of Andre’s who beat him last time (St John Eight) is quite a nice horse who’d been racing well at Auckland.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 3: Angelic Copy
6.09pm

Update: Scratched

“There is some doubt over whether she will start and we’re taking blood tomorrow morning to see how she is. We eliminated the tie-up problem but after she trained below par this week we took a blood and it showed she had a virus.”

Race 3: Lincoln Linda
6.09pm

“She’ll need a lot of luck from the outside of the second row. She was too fierce again last time, but I’m hoping the likely faster pace on Friday will suit her.”

Race 4: Lincoln Lover
6.40pm

“Lincoln Lover isn’t training as well as Prince Lincoln but he has the inside draw to help him. And he’s a tough little bugger who’s not one to shirk his responsibilities.”

Race 4: Prince Lincoln
6.40pm

“If I had to choose between them I’d say Prince Lincoln is the better chance. He’s training very well and he’d be a chance of getting some of it with luck from his wide gate.”

Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.23pm

“I’m not holding my breath. He’s gone some handy races against the very best but he’s not in career best form. I’m just hoping the 2700 metres might suit him better. I think he might need a decent break.”

Whales Harness