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.
More news in Harness
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Ray: Put the line through Johnny’s last run - it was a walk-fest and he copped it late
Return to left-handed racing will help Lincoln La Moose at Cambridge on Thursday night
Here’s Johnny … Ray introduces weanling sale graduate as deserved favourite on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Tuesday twlight at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.19pm
“She tries hard but others look better here and she’ll need a lot of luck from the wide draw.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Tyson
5.35pm
“He’s a strong horse and I think he’ll improve with that fresh-up run. He’s trained on well and Zac is staying with him and that’s always a good sign. He’s drawn well so he should be handy. You have to rate him a chance.”
Race 3: Johnny LIncoln
6.36pm
“I thought he did very well to recover from that early gallop last week. His tail also became entangled in the hopple carrier which made him over-race. He got in a bit on the corners too but we’ll put a little burr on his neck this week to stop that. He looks to be a nice horse and I’m sure he’ll go well again.”
Race 9: The Rascal
9.24pm
“You couldn’t fault his first-up effort at Cambridge, I thought it was the run of the race. Fergy got pushed out at the 950 but that’s because he was nursing him as he’s a bit green. Previously he was on our transfer list but he’s steadily improved in the last three or four weeks and is really coming to it now.”
