It’s a packed photo finish but Argyle’s big late burst has carried him to a neck win at Albion Park tonight.
Argyle sails home to win at Albion Park but it’s been far from plain sailing for Mark
By Barry Lichter • 29 September 2023
Trainer Mark Dux expects Argyle to work through the grades now that he is over all the problems that have kept him out of the winner’s circle for 12 months.
The four-year-old showed his form line to be all wrong when he came from well back in the field and exploded past his rivals to score at long odds at Albion Park tonight.
Starting eighth favourite in the field of 10, at $31, Argyle settled three back in the running line for driver Angus Garrard and, thanks to a solid tempo throughout, was able to reel in the leaders close to home, prevailing in a neck and half head photo finish.
Argyle’s mile rate of 1:54 for the 1660 metres confirmed the ability Dux has long believed he possessed, but has been prevented from showing by repeated injuries.
Argyle had only just joined Dux’s Queensland stable last November when, after running second in a Group III three-year-old race at Albion Park, his knee blew up.
“That took a few months to settle down and when he came back he was racing against Leap To Fame and a lot of other good ones.
“And then that abscess blew out of his foot, and who knows how long that had been festering?
Trainer Mark Dux wth Argyle after his win at Albion Park tonight.“When we peeled it back, it was right up to the hair line and took a long time to grow back. There’s still a part missing on the inside which we’ve covered with a patch.
“It hasn’t been plain sailing but the foot’s looking pretty healthy again and it will keep growing down so hopefully he’s over all that.”
Dux said the way Argyle had been training recently suggested he wouldn’t take long to strike form.
And even though he beat only one home first-up the previous week, driver Grant Dixon reported he was unlucky to have been held up a bit turning for home and simply couldn’t pick up quickly enough on a slick 55.8 last quarter.
“Grant said he felt like he’d follow good speed and at home he’s always felt like a decent horse to me.
“There were times when I’d see him at the races and wonder whether he was giving you everything he had but he’s always felt like he’d go through the grades.
“We’ll go to a Saturday night now and he’ll win an m0 easy, then we can take the next step.
“Angus said he travelled well the whole way tonight and it helped having the pace on so they came home in only 56.9, not 55, and it wasn’t mathematically impossible to catch the leaders.”
With quarters of 27.2, 29.8, 28.2 and 28.7, the leaders tired and Argyle’s late charge carried him to his sixth victory, celebrated by Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and their partners, David Turner, Barry and Marie Jones and Friday Frenzy Racing, comprising Ian Middleton, Peter Jeffares, former All Black Bernie McCahill, Mike Ledger and Rob Redwood.
The Friday Frenzy group paid $26,000 for 20% of Argyle, donated by the Streets at a charity lunch in Auckland in November, 2020.
By champion stallion Bettor’s Delight, Argyle is from the same family as Lincoln Farms’ previous fine winners in Tommy Lincoln, Lincoln Road and Lincoln’s Girl and at $210,000 was the most expensive of the Streets’ buys at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka yearling sale earlier that year.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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.
