Argyle is forced four wide turning for home on a fast sectional but keeps coming for Angus Garrard.
Argyle running the hands off the clock every week and he’s a top three chance on Saturday
By Barry Lichter • 21 March 2024
Trainer Mark Dux rates Argyle a top three chance at Albion Park on Saturday, the horse showing no signs of flagging on a weekly diet of tough runs.
“The hard runs will eventually catch up with him but at the moment he’s going super well and I think he’ll be thereabouts again.”
Dux says the sectionals Argyle is running don’t lie. Last Saturday night, starting from three on the second row, Argyle was forced to make a three wide move too early when the one-one horse stopped in front of him a long way from home.
Covering extra ground on a fast 26.8 quarter would have finished most horses but the tough son of Bettors Delight kept coming, running closing sectionals in 26.75 and 27.65 to be only 8.3 metres from the winner The Tax Cullector.
The effort had plenty of merit given the winning mile rate of 1:52.5 and the fact Argyle, forced four wide turning in, covered 22 metres extra, the most in the race and 18 metres more than the winner.
“It seems funny clocking a 54.4 last half and running only fifth. Angus (Garrard) said he went terrific but it was just an impossible task having to pull out that early.
“That’s a decent run by any measure and he’s doing that every week. A lot more horses than you think are running halves like that here and not earning money.”
This week the band 5 action goes up from 1660 metres to 2138 metres, a distance which could even suit Argyle better because he’s so strong, says Dux.
“There’s a bit of speed inside us from the two (Despondent) and the three (Glover). Despondent normally takes a trail over 2138 so Glover is probably the leader and I can see us landing outside him.
“As long as we don’t have to burn too hard I don’t mind Argyle sitting there. He’ll poke along and be strong late.”
Another scenario which would favour Argyle even more is the chance Grant Dixon might come round on Pacifico Dream and give Argyle one-one cover.
“Pacifico Dream and Always Smokin are definitely the two to beat but I think we’ll go well again.
“Argyle is no good thing but he’ll be right there with them. He can win but it will come down to what happens in the run. If things go against him, he’ll keep whacking away. I’d put us in the top three chances.”
Argyle races at 9.07pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Ray: Sammy Lincoln has ‘turned the corner’ and can go on with it on Friday night
Wide draws to overcome but Spirit Of God and Jessie Lincoln should both be competitive
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirit Of God
5.44pm
“She’s definitely a chance as she has enough speed. The raw ability is there and I’m sure she’s as good as any of them ability wise. You can forget she went round at Auckland last week as she locked wheels 600 out.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.44pm
“There’s not a lot between her and Spirit Of God. The other filly is probably a bit fitter than Jessie but she worked well today and I think she’ll be very competitive. It depends on what sort of run she gets (from eight).”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
7.39pm
“I can’t label her as a betting proposition from the draw, and in a tougher field, but you can never discount her as you know she’ll put herself in the race. You saw what she did last week - it doesn’t matter where she draws, she’ll launch.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Marylynes Boy
5.56pm
“Last week’s run was a non-event but he went well on debut. He’d have to be a shot, drawn the inside.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.57pm
“It’s a shame he hasn’t had more economical trips - he’s had some tough runs - and keeps going good races. He should go well again.”
Race 4: Lincoln Wave
6.57pm
“He burned himself out early in the derby. There was no race for him last week but he’s training well and should be right in it. His best races have been on the front end.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.56pm
“She’s got the draw and will lead out but she’s no match for Sammy Lincoln and looks better placed at Cambridge.”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.56pm
“I think he’s turned the corner and can go on with the job. He will have gained a lot in confidence from last week’s win. We haven’t really tried him out of the gate but he’s a good horse who is improving all the time.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.56pm
“He pulled too hard when caught back on the markers last week. He’s got the same inside second row draw so we’ve taken the blinds off or he’d over-race again. When he draws a (good) gate we’ll put them back on again. Obviously he’s best on the front end.”
