Argyle is forced four wide turning for home on a fast sectional but keeps coming for Angus Garrard.
Argyle running the hands off the clock every week and he’s a top three chance on Saturday
By Barry Lichter • 21 March 2024
Trainer Mark Dux rates Argyle a top three chance at Albion Park on Saturday, the horse showing no signs of flagging on a weekly diet of tough runs.
“The hard runs will eventually catch up with him but at the moment he’s going super well and I think he’ll be thereabouts again.”
Dux says the sectionals Argyle is running don’t lie. Last Saturday night, starting from three on the second row, Argyle was forced to make a three wide move too early when the one-one horse stopped in front of him a long way from home.
Covering extra ground on a fast 26.8 quarter would have finished most horses but the tough son of Bettors Delight kept coming, running closing sectionals in 26.75 and 27.65 to be only 8.3 metres from the winner The Tax Cullector.
The effort had plenty of merit given the winning mile rate of 1:52.5 and the fact Argyle, forced four wide turning in, covered 22 metres extra, the most in the race and 18 metres more than the winner.
“It seems funny clocking a 54.4 last half and running only fifth. Angus (Garrard) said he went terrific but it was just an impossible task having to pull out that early.
“That’s a decent run by any measure and he’s doing that every week. A lot more horses than you think are running halves like that here and not earning money.”
This week the band 5 action goes up from 1660 metres to 2138 metres, a distance which could even suit Argyle better because he’s so strong, says Dux.
“There’s a bit of speed inside us from the two (Despondent) and the three (Glover). Despondent normally takes a trail over 2138 so Glover is probably the leader and I can see us landing outside him.
“As long as we don’t have to burn too hard I don’t mind Argyle sitting there. He’ll poke along and be strong late.”
Another scenario which would favour Argyle even more is the chance Grant Dixon might come round on Pacifico Dream and give Argyle one-one cover.
“Pacifico Dream and Always Smokin are definitely the two to beat but I think we’ll go well again.
“Argyle is no good thing but he’ll be right there with them. He can win but it will come down to what happens in the run. If things go against him, he’ll keep whacking away. I’d put us in the top three chances.”
Argyle races at 9.07pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Leo Lincoln close to a win: Watch how he copped it early last time at Manawatu
Consisent little Lincoln Lou sold to Western Australia to join fellow ex-Kiwis
Kevin Kline caps record day for Casey and loyal Lincoln Farms’ team - and can repeat
It’s bon voyage Frisky as Ray celebrates another rags to riches sale success
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm
“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”
Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm
“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm
“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Lover
5.33pm
“He had no chance last start when trapped three wide all the way. That won’t happen this time from the inside draw so that gives him a chance to get some of it.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.33pm
“He’s shown no gate speed so the wide draw doesn’t matter. He’s coming along all right but will need lots of luck against the hot pots.”
Race 5: Debbie Lincoln
6.54pm
“She seems to have overcome her tying-up issue, her bloods are good, and she’s training well again. She could possibly be underdone and the seven draw makes it very hard.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lou
7.20pm
Scratched. Sold to Western Australia.
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: What’s Up The Hill
3.16pm
“He’s a work in progress. He just needs more practice - you don’t learn much at the trials with only two or three horses. If he trots the whole way, he should be in the money.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
4.38pm
“We drove her more quietly last time and she finished very well. She got sucked along and did nothing, finishing with plenty of gas in the tank. Ideally she’ll be driven like that again.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
5.33pm
“He had his legs taken right out from under him on the first turn last time. He’s racing very well and should be in the money again for sure.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
5.33pm
“We’ve scratched him. He has an abscess in a foot and is quite tender on it.”
