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.
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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.”
