Angus “The Kid” Garrard returns after winning on Captain Nemo at Albion Park on Tuesday. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Whiz kid Angus Garrard lands his 500th winner on our own warhorse Captain Nemo
By Barry Lichter • 14 December 2022
He won’t be the best horse Angus Garrard ever drives but the Queensland whiz kid won’t ever forget his win behind Captain Nemo at Albion Park on Tuesday.
When the Lincoln Farms’ owned four-year-old led all the way to win his 11th race, he credited Garrard with his 500th driving success.
That’s a remarkable achievement for a 19-year-old who, when still at school at the age of 17 became the youngest driver in Queensland to rack up 100 winners in a season.
Trainer Mark Dux said his own thrill at scoring an overdue win with the horse was trumped by the sheer jubilation Garrard showed on returning to scale.
“Angus was very excited. He’s only a kid but he’s already driven quite a few winners for me.
Mark Dux … “Captain Nemo never does any more than he has to - he won’t ever win by five. You think you’re in trouble then you can feel him lift.”“Angus said he was never going to get beaten, even though the margin was less than two metres.
“Nemo wants to stay in front of them but he never does any more than he has to - he won’t ever win by five. He’s always been like that. You think you’re in trouble then you can feel him lift when they come at you - which is fine so long as it’s not too close to the post and he doesn’t see them in time.”
Yesterday, when Betterthandiamonds and Pete McMullen ranged alongside to exert pressure at the bell, Garrard said Captain Nemo was on a loose rein and he didn’t really know how he was travelling.
“But when he clicked him up at the half mile he knew he had plenty of horse.
“It was a good win in the end,” said Dux of Captain Nemo who rated 1:53.4 for the 1660 metres and paid overs at $14.
Captain Nemo’s form line might not look the best but Dux reiterated his only bad run this time in was when it was later discovered he was sick.
“When he’s on his game he never runs badly. What you see is what you get with him.
“He just hasn’t been getting the best of trips but you couldn’t have asked for a better trip yesterday.
Accomplished golfer Gareth Paddison makes friends with Captain Nemo, in whom he was gifted a share by Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street after finishing second in the 2020 Wairakei Invitational.“We didn’t expect him to lead but the others didn’t charge out like we thought they would. He came off the gate himself and got there without being asked to do too much.”
The Captaintreacherous - Arden Caviar gelding, bred by John and Katrina Price, will have his next start at Albion Park on Friday week, with the usual Saturday night programme shifting to a day meeting.
“He beat some pretty decent horses yesterday, the two favourites were band one and band two horses. Next week he drops back a bit to a band five race and I’m sure he’ll acquit himself well.”
Captain Nemo’s record now stands at 11 wins and 13 placings from 60 starts for prizemoney of $54,922 in New Zealand and another A$44,093 in Australia, taking the total to more than $100,000 for Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, Gareth Paddison, the Green Machine Syndicate, Grant Dickey and Ian Middleton.
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Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
