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
By Barry Lichter • 20 December 2023
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.
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.”
