Argyle is second last but only 13 metres from the winner and he’s powering to the line.
Argyle top three chance from improved draw on Saturday night - he’s running super splits
By Barry Lichter • 8 March 2024
Beating only one home might look bad on paper but Argyle actually ran so well at his last start trainer Mark Dux is tipping him as a top three chance at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Dux gave Argyle no chance from his outside second row draw last week - and going out at odds of $50 to one he finished second last.
But when driver Mathew Neilson returned afterwards he reported the horse paced a terrific race.
“Mathew said it was one of his best runs and when you look at the sectionals he ran it’s hard to believe he finished out the back.”
Argyle was clocked over his last 800 metres in 54.45, half a second faster than winner OK Boomer, ripping home from the 400 in 26.18, despite covering 17 metres more than the winner.
His closing splits were the second fastest in the race, only Scotch En Ice faster at 54.39 - and he ran last!
“That’s the reality of racing when they’re running such fast times up front.
“And it wasn’t as if Argyle was tippy-toeing at the finish, he was strong through the line.”
Dux says Saturday night’s race is not quite as strong as last week’s opposition while still a good, band 5 line-up.
“But he’s up to it and the way he’s going he won’t be too far off them and with an ounce of luck he can finish top three.
“It will come down go what happens early. From three, we’ll get off the gate and try and put him right there.
“The two horse (Nurburgring) will try to cross the one (Windy Hill Wally) and he normally hands.
“It wouldn’t worry me if he sat in the running line outside the leader and hopefully they’ll go nice and steady.
“If the lead time is too fast we might struggle. But it’s not end of the world if we don’t get cover, he’s good sitting quietly.”
Dux can see in-form Bangkok Deejay being the one to beat again after his half head second to OK Boomer last week.
“He put himself up outside the leader last time and the early fractions were only steady. They only sprinted a half.”
Argyle races at 8.39pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
