Argyle in winning action at Cambridge but he is at a tricky place in the ratings now in Queensland. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.
Argyle over foot abscess but he has another bad draw to overcome on Tuesday evening
By Barry Lichter • 5 June 2023
Argyle had a good excuse for finishing only fifth at his last start but he’s still going to need a lot of luck to win at Albion Park tomorrow evening.
Drawn the outside of the arm in the eighth race, trainer Mark Dux says the horse will have to be driven quietly.
But he still expects Argyle to go a good race given what came to light after his last run on May 18.
“He was really sore the next day, he couldn’t walk.”
By the afternoon it was apparent an abscess was starting to blow out of his foot through a hole in the coronet band.
“He must have felt it during the race to be so sore the next morning. There was no indication of a problem before the race so obviously the run brought it out.”
The finding certainly helped explain why Argyle didn’t finish off his race as Dux was expecting.
“When he came out, and moved up really nicely, I thought he was going to be in the money.”
But when Argyle only battled up the home straight, at first Dux put it down to having his momentum stopped when a horse came out in front of him.
“Mathew (Neilson) just had to grab him for a moment and he couldn’t pick up again.”
The run took on an even better light when his foot problem surfaced.
Dux said it wasn’t like Argyle went badly - he still paced his last mile of the 1660 metres in 1:53.78 - pacing his first half in 56.91 and last half in 56.86.
Whether the horse will be quite as sharp on Tuesday is up for debate considering he missed a few days’ work while his foot recovered.
While you could never say for sure why the horse developed the abscess, Dux said it was interesting that his blacksmith noted he’d come across a number of horses with similar issues since the track surface at Albion Park was top dressed.
It was possible sand found its way into cracks in horses’ feet before it became packed down.
“I’m happy with him now but the run will do him good. We’ll drive him quietly early then play it by ear, depending on how he travels in the running.”
Dux said Argyle was in a tricky place in the ratings.
While he was the highest rated in Tuesday’s field, which was up to rating 70, it meant that under the preferential barrier draw he copped the worst alley.
To get relief in the draw he would have to race in a field of much better pacers, possibly up to rating 90.
Argyle races at 7.10pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
