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
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.”
