Argyle top three chance from improved draw on Saturday night - he’s running super splits

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.