For Real Life stands head and shoulders above his opposition at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Realistic Mark concedes defeat on Argyle - For Real Life will smash them on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 9 February 2024
Trainer Mark Dux doesn’t like the idea of conceding defeat but he gives Argyle zero chance of beating For Real Life at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Lincoln Farms’ pacer might be in solid form but Trent Dawson’s brilliant four-year-old stands so far above the rest of the field, Dux says all his rivals will be driving only for the minor money.
One of the most exciting pacers in Queensland, For Real Life won eight of his 11 starts last season, including the Triad Final, and is using Saturday night’s 1660 event as a warm-up for the $250,000 Chariots Of Fire in Sydney on March 2.
“It would be a brave man to say they could beat For Real Life, especially the way he trialled last week,” Dux says.
In his first serious hitout for three months, For Real Life clocked a 1:52.3 mile rate for 1660 metres at Albion Park, scoring by 14 metres and swishing home his last 800 in 54.3 and 400 in 26.3.
The For A Reason entire went even quicker in his last race in November when be blitzed the talented Frankie Ferocious over 2138 metres, clocking a 1:55.6 mile rate and flying home in 53.3, his last quarter in 25.7.
Trent Dawson … trains and drives the exciting four-year-old For Real Life.“He could sit outside them and beat them on Saturday night but no one would be silly enough to try to park him. I can see him being handed the lead and everyone else will be just hoping they can run a place.”
For Real Life, who on a 93 rating is 17 points higher than his nearest rival, gets into the race courtesy of not having won a metro race on a Saturday night - despite winning feature three-year-old races.
And from gate five, Dux says Dawson will be heading only for one spot - the top.
“Dawson knows how good the horse is and he’ll want a good hit-out before the Chariots. All the other horses will have their tongues out chasing him and he’ll run his last half in 54 something. Do the maths and you’ll see that if you’re out wide you’ll be struggling to even hold your spot. Not even our free-for-allers could beat him coming wide out.”
That’s why Dux says he can see it being a “fence race” for Argyle, who has drawn two on the second row.
“It’s crazy to think we can come wide. We’ve got to go to the fence and drive for luck. We could end up four back but that wouldn’t be that bad if Dawson turns him loose and opens the field up in the last 600 metres.
“I’m sure that’s the way we should play it, take the short cuts, or we’ll end up running fast sectionals and getting nothing.”
Argyle might have finished only sixth last week but Dux says he paced a super race, mounting a solo run from the 600.
“He did all the work improving three wide and carted the winner (Bangkok Deejay) into the race.
“I thought we was really good. He was only three metres from the second horse in a line-up across the track.”
Argyle ran the 2138 metres in a mile rate of 1:54.73, travelling an extra 31 metres and carving out closing sectionals of 28.4, 29.69, 27.55 and 29.09.
Meanwhile, Dux has given Captain Nemo a week off to freshen-up after another game run last week when a 1.5 metres second.
“The heat was killing him. It was so hot on Saturday night and it’s been catching up with him.
“He’ll be back in six weeks and by then it will have cooled down a bit. The weather should be lovely in March.”
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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.
