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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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
