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Argyle, top, is pipped by the late swooper Shell Shock last week.

Unlucky Argyle deserves to be rewarded at Albion Park tonight - just no bad luck please

Argyle is racing so well not even an inside second row draw should keep him out of the finish at Albion Park on Saturday night, says trainer Mark Dux.

“It wouldn’t have mattered where he drew this week, he’s in the money, barring bad luck. He’s going terrific and he gets in so well at the ratings.”

Argyle is the top rater in the 1660 metre sprint on R75, only Mister Reactor (R74) close to him, with the next highest rated horse Rocknpenny on R63.

And it’s not as if Argyle has slipped in the pecking order. While his fromline of 82602 isn’t that inspiring, Dux says it would be hard to point to any recent race where he has not performed well.

“We’re going as well as anything in the race and I’m very happy with him.”

Unlucky not to have won last week, when pipped half a neck, Argyle was just held up a little waiting for the sprint lane, which allowed his main danger, fellow Woodlands Stud graduate Shell Shock, to cash in on his momentum out wide.

“We took a while to wind up and he also wanted to get up the track a bit which didn’t help.”

Argyle lost his advantage of the pole soon after the start when, after making a swift start, he was outsped to the first turn by Alta Equus, ending up in the trail.

Instead of being able to roll along at a good clip, Argyle then was at the mercy of the leader’s tempo, the sedate last half of 56.7 leaving him susceptible to a swooper like Shell Shock.

“From the trail you’re dictated to by how strong the leader gets you to the corner.”

Dux says the form for Saturday was franked when Alta Equus, third last week, won at Albion Park last night.

While Argyle follows out a good beginner in Mighty George tonight, Dux sees Bonnies Cam, in two, crossing him.

“If the two wants to lead it will. That would put us three fence and it then would come down to what the others out wide want to do. Leithen Burn might try to cross from five.

“Three back I’m happy. Even four back doesn’t put him out of the race by any stretch. We just don’t want any bad luck.”

Top young gun driver Angus Garrard, away driving in Sydney last week, is back on board tonight.

Argyle races at 11.02pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.Argyle races at 11.02pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Manawatu

Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm

“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”

Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm

“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”

Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm

“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Cambridge

Race 2: Lincoln Lover
5.33pm

“He had no chance last start when trapped three wide all the way. That won’t happen this time from the inside draw so that gives him a chance to get some of it.”

Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.33pm

“He’s shown no gate speed so the wide draw doesn’t matter. He’s coming along all right but will need lots of luck against the hot pots.”

Race 5: Debbie Lincoln
6.54pm

“She seems to have overcome her tying-up issue, her bloods are good, and she’s training well again. She could possibly be underdone and the seven draw makes it very hard.”

Race 6: Lincoln Lou
7.20pm

Scratched. Sold to Western Australia.

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Sunday at Manawatu

Race 1: What’s Up The Hill
3.16pm

“He’s a work in progress. He just needs more practice - you don’t learn much at the trials with only two or three horses. If he trots the whole way, he should be in the money.”

Race 4: Onyx Shard
4.38pm

“We drove her more quietly last time and she finished very well. She got sucked along and did nothing, finishing with plenty of gas in the tank. Ideally she’ll be driven like that again.”

Race 6: Leo Lincoln
5.33pm

“He had his legs taken right out from under him on the first turn last time. He’s racing very well and should be in the money again for sure.”

Race 6: Kevin Kline
5.33pm

“We’ve scratched him. He has an abscess in a foot and is quite tender on it.”

Whales Harness