Argyle’s foot looking better but Mark will be happy to see him just hit the line on Friday
By Barry Lichter • 21 September 2023
Don’t expect any fireworks from Argyle when he resumes from a long spell at Albion Park in Brisbane on Friday evening, says trainer Mark Dux.
Lincoln Farms’ four-year-old hasn’t raced for three and a half months after an abscess destroyed much of the wall of his foot.
And, while he performed to the satisfaction of Dux in a trial last Friday, Argyle looked well short of race fitness.
“He trialled well enough but got a bit tired in the last 100 metres, which was only to be expected,” Dux said.
Argyle … last raced on June 6.The winner of the heat, former Kiwi Sirius, now called So Sirius and a newcomer to Queensland, motored the last 800 metres of the 1660 heat in 55.5 and 400 in 26.5, leaving Argyle out of breath 15 metres away in third.
“He’s done well since the trial but it’s not an easy race that he’s in and, from his second row draw, we’ll drive him cold, and let him hit the line.”
With regular pilot Angus Garrard committed to his father Daren’s horse, Back To Betoota, Dux has engaged Grant Dixon for Argyle.
“He’ll race well but he’ll be out the back and, because they go so fast here now, unless you get a decent trip you can’t catch them.
“If they’re running 55 on the fence up front you can’t catch them from back in the field. That’s why you see so many lead, trail, three fence finishes these days.”
Dux said while Argyle’s foot has grown down a lot during his break, it still looked “a bit average.”
Lincoln Farms’ stablemate Captain Nemo didn’t get a start on Friday so will be nominated for Tuesday’s meeting.
Argyle races at 8.18pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday evening.
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
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.”
