Good draw gives Argyle a chance to secure sweet trip and go back-to-back on Saturday
By Barry Lichter • 6 October 2023
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 night
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.44pm
“She normally runs on better but, after looking like she was going to round them up on the turn last week, she just flattened out. But she’ll be hovering around there somewhere.”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
6.55pm
“She’s such a tough little filly who tries so hard. I wish I had one with speed with those qualities. It would be nice if they go hard, and she gets a suck along, then she might get a small piece of it. She never goes a bad race.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
6.55pm
“She’s been going all right but she keeps getting awkward draws and getting pushed back to the rear. Because of her initial success (as a two-year-old) she’s been badly off in the ratings but she’s slowly losing points.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
6.55pm
“He’s a serious winning chance. He’ll go forward from his outside gate and try to dominate again in front. He’s not just winning, he’s demolishing them.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.45pm
“He got fired up at Cambridge with the long delay and, after he went forward to get a position, Fergie was just a passenger. When they pull that hard they don’t run on. He’s been racing well and can’t be ruled out if he gets a good trip.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.45pm
”If he gets a half decent trip, he’s the one to beat. Ignore the Cambridge run last week from a stand. We know what he can do from the mobile.”
