Angus Garrard is back on Argyle at Albion Park on Saturday night. PHOTO: Club Menangle.
Mark: How we drive Argyle on Saturday night is in The Kid’s hands - he’ll work it out
By Barry Lichter • 7 February 2025
Trainer Mark Dux will leave it to young gun Angus Garrard to decide whether to push the button early on Argyle at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Lincoln Farms’ comeback pacer has been driven cold by concession junior drivers in his first two runs back but on Saturday one of the state’s most exciting reinsmen will be back in the cart.
Angus ‘The Kid’ Garrard is only 21 but has already driven a whopping 877 winners and in a couple of weeks on his home course he will battle it out with some of the world’s best in the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship.
Garrard knows Argyle well, having been behind the horse in each of his three previous wins in Queensland.
“Having Angus back on helps,” says Dux. “He might think about rolling forward and it wouldn’t be a stupid idea.
“The worry is that in a small field, they’ll come out quick off the gate, take a spot, and nothing will move.
“I don’t see a lot of pressure in the race and if Hiranya gets an easy lead, and runs home in 55, it will make it harder. If you’re sixth in the running, that’s where you’ll end up.
“At least if you’re outside the leader you could finish top three. But I’ll let Angus work it out when they say go. He’s got enough speed to roll across them but it will depend on how many charge out of the gate.”
Dux knows something will have to go Argyle’s way if he is to feature in the race which, while small on numbers, includes some who have been racing in open class.
“It’s a good race but he’ll go well - I’m more than happy with him. His run the other day was decent. He travelled up really nicely and, when he was running a 27.96 last quarter, he was was six wide on the home.”
Argyle, who settled five back on the outer from his bad draw, was clocked over his last 800 metres in 55.2, finishing 12.6 metres behind upset winner Commodore Jujon.
His mile rate of 1:56.54 for the 2138 metres was little inferior to his rivals, despite travelling an extra 37 metres in the run, easily the furthest covered by any runner.
“He just couldn’t get into the race from where he was. And when Layne (Dwyer) dropped his hands halfway down the straight, the horse took it easy.
“We’re going nearly as quick as Menangle so we’re dependent on getting some luck. Hiranya is the one to beat as it will go forward and find the top.”
Argyle races at 11.59pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Street tells how sharing the thrill with his brother and sister elevated the Colonel’s win
Angelic result for Debbie but shadows rob Linda’s supporters in first two-year-old race
Ray’s classroom tip: Cheap fillies ‘most likely to succeed’ in north’s first two-year-old race
Mark: Flat tyre no help to Argyle when resuming but he’s not ready to launch just yet
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln La Moose
5.43pm
“Drawn well, he should get a good trip and be the one to beat. He got held up at Cambridge last time and these amateur races are easier to win.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.43pm
“The form line doesn’t show it but he actually went ok last time, they just sprinted and left him flat-footed. He’ll go his usual honest race.”
Race 2: Angelic Copy
6.16pm
“She and Linda train and trial together and are much more forward than the others. She’s a proper little tradesman who can do whatever you want and she tries hard.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
6.16pm
“He’s not as forward as the fillies. He’s still learning and can do nothing but improve.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lover
6.16pm
“He’s another who will benefit from the experience but he’s by Bettor’s Delight and they tend to lift their game when the money’s up.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.16pm
“She has a bit of speed but is not as tractable as Linda - she doesn’t handle the corners quite as well and might be a little better left-handed. But she’s as good as any of them at the moment and, in the small field, should get her chance.”
Race 2: Lincoln Linda
6.16pm
“Though drawn the outside, she should really be the one to beat, based on her trial. She’s quite a strong filly, who is well gaited and should go forward. Maurice (McKendry) has driven her two or three times and he likes her.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.08pm
“He should be dangerous against what is not a wonderful bunch. He trialled well, a nose behind Lewey Maguire (home in 56.4). All three of mine are nice horses and should be right there.”
Race 4: Tyson
7.08pm
“He was laying in on the corners last time at Cambridge and it was just a sprint home. He needs to be driven a bit more aggressively - he’s gone his best races when he’s been put in the race. Remember he sat parked when third to Arna’s good one (Chase Me) in December. He can tough it.”
Race 4: Colonel Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s training down well, as good as you could expect. He’s done nothing wrong in three starts back. The outside draw is an inconvenience but, when he slots in, he won’t be far off them.”
Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.38pm
“He got held up last time and the winner got away on him. He should get a nice trip from one. He’ll go another honest race and will be in it for a while.”
Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
8.38pm
“She could be quite a nice filly. The way she’s developing I think she’ll be competitive against the better fillies later in the year. She’s quite versatile and can race tough. She has a lot of potential.”
Race 7: Frisco Bay
8.38pm
“He’d be on a par with Debbie for speed but he can get a bit carried away. Hopefully he can get a nice suck into it. I can’t fault the way they’re training and whichever of the two gets the best trip should win.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 7: Argyle
11.59NZ time
“It’s a good race but I’m more than happy with him. His run the other day was decent. He couldn’t get into it from where he was in the running but he travelled up really nicely and, when he was running a 27.96 last quarter, he was was six wide on the home. I don’t see a lot of pressure in the race and if Hiranya gets an easy lead, and runs home in 55, it will make it hard to make up ground from the back. I’ll let Angus work it out when they say go. He’s got enough speed to roll across them and sit parked but it will depend on how many charge out of the gate.”
