Argyle cut off his air last time so forgive the run, says trainer Mark Dux.
Mark reveals the reason for Argyle’s flop and gives Captain Nemo a reprieve from the knife
By Barry Lichter • 21 April 2023
Trainer Mark Dux can’t threaten Argyle with the knife like he did Captain Nemo, as he’s already a gelding, and he says you can simply draw a line through his last start flop anyway.
Just three days after Nemo earned himself a reprieve from the ultimate op, by running a close and unlucky second at Albion Park, Dux is confident of an improved performance from Argyle in the fifth race on Saturday night.
Dux says there’s a simple reason why Argyle never fired a shot a couple of weeks ago, under pressure a long way out and beating only one home - he almost certainly cut off his air in the running.
“I could see he was in trouble at the half mile and that’s not like him.”
Dux says the first words out of driver Trent Moffat’s mouth when he returned to scale were: ‘Has he ever cut off his wind before’?
“He’s never done it at the races but I told the driver before the race he can get pulling a bit.
“I think he must have over-reacted a bit and had him on too tight a rein because when he came back the horse blew really hard for a while.
“He pulled up awful and the run really knocked him around, that’s why I let him miss racing last week to give him plenty of time to get over it.”
Dux is confident with top youngster Angus Garrard holding the reins on Saturday night there will be no repetition.
“I don’t have any doubt he’ll race well. I’m really happy with him.
“He needs only an ounce of luck and, if he can get a good run through from the second line, I think he can be thereabouts.
“There was nothing wrong with his runs before his last start and he feels good. I can’t fault him.”
With a 73 rating, Argyle is easily the highest graded horse in the 2138 metre event, the next best on 66 and none of the others higher than 61.
* Two possible races for Captain Nemo on Tuesday did not get off the ground so he’s now likely to race again next Saturday.
Argyle races at 9.13pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
What’s Up The Hill.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm
“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm
“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm
“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”
