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Good draw gives Argyle a chance to secure sweet trip and go back-to-back on Saturday

Trainer Mark Dux can see a likely scenario that will give Argyle a great chance of scoring back-to-back wins at Albion Park on Saturday night.

The four-year-old put a long drought behind him when he exploded home to score at odds of $31 last week and, in a field of similar quality this week, he has finally landed a good draw in the second race.

But while Argyle and Angus Garrard will leave the gate from two, Dux doubts they can cross the pole runner, Luvbite, who led all the way from one on Tuesday.

“There is speed outside us though and I can Midnight Calm going forward - when he’s free rolling in front he can run a bit of time.

“It will all come down to whether Luvbite holds the lead and, if he does, and leaves Midnight Calm out there, we could be sitting pretty in the one-one. If that unfolds we’ll be strong at the finish.”

Dux believes he finally has Argyle in the right condition to hold his form.

“He hasn’t had a decent campaign yet, something’s always gone wrong. But I can’t fault him at the moment, his times have been good, and I think he’ll be thereabouts.”

If you go back through Argyle’s form, Dux says you’ll see how he’s come up against far better fields.

In his first start in the state last November he finished second in a Group III three-year-old race behind Future Assured, now a free-for-all horse with 11 wins.

Since then, first a knee injury then a foot abscess have sidelined him for long periods.

“It’s a nice enough field on Saturday night but I’m sure he’ll race well.”

Only two horses in the 1660 metre race are rated higher than Argyle, giving him a great shot at taking the major slice of the A$20,770 stake.

Argyle races at 9.13pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday nightArgyle races at 9.13pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Wednesday night at Cambridge

Race 7: Im Not The Maid
8.16pm

“She’ll need all of Gary Hall’s skills to get on the podium tonight. She only battled away when resuming in a fast-run race here last week and gets a niggly draw here.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 5: Tyson
7.40pm

“He was squeezed up late last week but, with a run through earlier, I reckon he could just about have rounded them up. He never goes a bad race and he’s got to be the one to beat this time from the good draw in an easier field.”

Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.07pm

“He was good running third three weeks ago despite getting a flat tyre. I think he’ll go really well again. He was very good in a workout last week.”

Race 6: Kevin Kline
8.07pm

“I can’t separate him and Sugar Ray. It will come down to whichever one gets the better trip. He beat a similar field here last time when leading.”

Race Images - Harness