Mark: How we drive Argyle on Saturday night is in The Kid’s hands - he’ll work it out

Trainer Mark Dux will leave it to young gun Angus Garrard to decide whether to push the button early on Argyle at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Lincoln Farms’ comeback pacer has been driven cold by concession junior drivers in his first two runs back but on Saturday one of the state’s most exciting reinsmen will be back in the cart.

Angus ‘The Kid’ Garrard is only 21 but has already driven a whopping 877 winners and in a couple of weeks on his home course he will battle it out with some of the world’s best in the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship.

Garrard knows Argyle well, having been behind the horse in each of his three previous wins in Queensland.

“Having Angus back on helps,” says Dux. “He might think about rolling forward and it wouldn’t be a stupid idea.

“The worry is that in a small field, they’ll come out quick off the gate, take a spot, and nothing will move.

“I don’t see a lot of pressure in the race and if Hiranya gets an easy lead, and runs home in 55, it will make it harder. If you’re sixth in the running, that’s where you’ll end up.

“At least if you’re outside the leader you could finish top three. But I’ll let Angus work it out when they say go. He’s got enough speed to roll across them but it will depend on how many charge out of the gate.”

Dux knows something will have to go Argyle’s way if he is to feature in the race which, while small on numbers, includes some who have been racing in open class.

“It’s a good race but he’ll go well - I’m more than happy with him. His run the other day was decent. He travelled up really nicely and, when he was running a 27.96 last quarter, he was was six wide on the home.”

Argyle, who settled five back on the outer from his bad draw, was clocked over his last 800 metres in 55.2, finishing 12.6 metres behind upset winner Commodore Jujon.

His mile rate of 1:56.54 for the 2138 metres was little inferior to his rivals, despite travelling an extra 37 metres in the run, easily the furthest covered by any runner.

“He just couldn’t get into the race from where he was. And when Layne (Dwyer) dropped his hands halfway down the straight, the horse took it easy.

“We’re going nearly as quick as Menangle so we’re dependent on getting some luck. Hiranya is the one to beat as it will go forward and find the top.”

Argyle races at 11.59pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.