Argyle and Angus Garrard will be hard to beat again on Saturday night.
Argyle up to testing them even from a wide alley at Albion Park on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 26 October 2023
Trainer Mark Dux knows Argyle will have to do some work from his wide draw but says the horse is up to the task at Albion Park on Saturday night.
The second highest rated horse in the opening race, Argyle has an attractive form line, having won and finished second in his last three starts.
And, despite drawing one from the outside, Dux believes the horse can be right there at the finish, regardless of the trip he gets.
“I’m real happy with him. He’s done well since his last race and I’m sure he’ll race well.
“If we’d drawn inside them I’d have said he was a winner but you wouldn’t want your last (dollar) on him from that draw. “
Dux doubts driver Angus Garrard can cross Daniel Boom, the horse who gave him one-one cover last time, and says Bonnie’s Cam, in five, has a lot of gate speed too.
“The inside horses have an advantage at the 2138 metre start too. You can hold a lot easier than at the mile because you’re in a straight line for longer and nearly at top speed.
“But with a bit of luck he won’t be too far off them. I could see him sitting parked and still racing really well.
“We won’t go out with a set plan. If he has to do a bit of work I think he’s up to testing them.”
Concession driver Angus Garrard, 20, who notched win No. 500 behind Captain Nemo in December, 2022, has now driven 638 winners.Formline hides terrific runs
Dux also quietly fancies the chances of Lincoln Farms’ other runner Captain Nemo getting some money, despite his drawing two on the second row in the sixth race.
With a formline of 653P8, that might be hard to understand but Dux says the horse is going much better than that might suggest.
“His recent runs have been terrific and even though he ran only eighth last time I was real happy with the run.
“He came home in 55.05, with his last two quarters in 27.57 and 27.47 - and he was off the track doing that.
The official stats showed Captain Nemo also covered an extra 36 metres in the race, more than anything else in the race.
“And he kept hitting the line, even though a few of the others got away from him when nothing carried him into the race.”
Dux tips Lord Zarias as the one to beat from the pole.
Formerly trained by Zachary Butcher at Lincoln Farms, when named plain Zarias, the rating 98 horse will enjoy a huge drop in grade, and Dux suspects claiming driver Paige Bevan may try to lead.
“Awaywego will go forward again - I can’t see him going back - and I think the one will try and hold which will put a bit of pressure into the race and help us.
“The harder they go, the better for us.”
Dux says it’s been harder for Captain Nemo to secure the right spots in the running since they made the decision to stop driving him hard all the time.
“It’s getting harder to drive him tough. But while we’ve been more conservative with him, he’s been racing really well.
“From the alley he won’t be too far off, I suspect midfield at the worst. And if they go the first half solid it will suit us. I think both of ours could be right here.”
Argyle races at 8.47pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Captain Nemo races at 11.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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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.
