Argyle sits parked in the running fresh-up at Albion Park last Saturday night.
Look for better run from green Argyle on Saturday night with can’t-see-back blinds
By Barry Lichter • 24 March 2023
Trainer Mark Dux will be surprised if Argyle doesn’t run a good race at Albion Park on Saturday night, calling his first-up run “inconclusive.”
Argyle, having his first race for more than four months last Saturday, did plenty of work three wide to the death, before dropping out to run last.
But Dux points to two factors that muddy the result, the horse’s greenness and the fact he went to the line on another horse’s back, unable to get clear.
“At the finish he had nowhere to go and couldn’t be tested so it was an inconclusive run. I’m sure he had something to offer.”
But Dux said it was more the horse’s inexperience that told against him.
“He didn’t seem to know what to do. He continually switched on and off.”
Right from the start, Argyle made it difficult for driver Nathan Dawson.
“He wanted to run the gate, and then he didn’t, and when Nathan went to pull back he grabbed the bit again.
“And when he let him go down the back he dropped the bit and raced greenly. If he’d held his position outside the leader down the back he might have been OK but when he let the other one go, the horse switched off.
“He’s done that with me at home too. Some days you can’t get him going, but when he’s switched on he’s good.”
Argyle … hot and cold.Given Argyle can run a little hot and cold, Dux will try him in “can’t-see-back” blinds on Saturday night to make him concentrate more.
“He can pull so I don’t want to close him up too much.”
Though Argyle is the highest rated horse in the field on R74, Dux said he’s a beginner compared with most of his rivals.
With just 17 starts under his belt, he is easily the most lightly raced and seven of his rivals have won more races than him, having slid up and down the grades.
Argyle hasn’t had that luxury of dropping many points, having jumped quickly in class and finishing in the top five in nine of his starts.
With three wins at Cambridge and one at Auckland between last April and August, Argyle rose from R45 to R60. And when he won a rating 67 to 75 race first-up at Melton in September, he jumped into a grade populated by battle-hardened runners.
“But I still think he’ll race well on Saturday,” Dux said. “I’m pleased with him and I rate him a top four or five chance for sure.
“Obviously from three on the second row we’ll have to come from the back, drive him quietly and follow them, but so long as they don’t walk, I think he’ll be thereabouts.”
Argyle, who has earned A$50,559, is raced by John and Lynne Street, David Turner, Barry and Marie Jones and the Friday Frenzy Racing syndciate comprising Ian Middleton, Peter Jeffares, Bernie McCahill, Mike Ledger and Rob Redwood.
Argyle races at 9.10pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
