Mark: Louie’s the one for Punters - he needs only average luck on Friday night to score

Louie The Punter’s massive last start performance has left trainer Mark Dux confident he can win another four of five races in Queensland before the going gets tougher.

And the winning should start in the third race at Albion Park on Friday night even though the horse starts from the outside of the second row.

The Sweet Lou four-year-old could not have been more impressive in only his second race in Brisbane last week when he was badly inconvenienced at the start and came from last to go under by only half a neck, a nose and a short half head.

Dux had been hoping Louie would trail Congo Line all the way but when that horse crawled out of the pole, then galloped, forcing driver Pete McMullen to take evasive action and go round him, it looked curtains.

But when the pace dropped away in the second quarter to a pedestrian 32, McMullen got on his bike, starting a long three wide run from the rear.

And despite not getting any cover, the horse kept coming, looking a distinct danger up the straight.

The long green arrow alongside Louie The Punter’s name shows he made up 18 metres on the leader in the last 800 metres.Louie The Punter’s superior sectionals underlined the enormity of his effort, his 55.43 and 28.54 seeing him make up 18 metres on the leader over the last 800 metres.

“How far would we have won by if he’d trailed?” Dux said. “Pete was impressed and he should be very tough to beat on Friday night with even average luck. He just needs no bad luck like last time.

“I’m very happy with the horse, he pulled up well, and on last week’s effort he’ll win a few more races no trouble.”

Only one horse in Friday’s race has a higher rating than Louie The Punter (NR57) but Mach Brilliance (NR62) has drawn the outside of the arm.

Louie The Punter races at 8.25pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.