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
By Barry Lichter • 24 February 2024
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.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
