Northview Hustler is airborne at the finish of his Albion Park trial on Tuesday.
Al: Good night in the offing for Lincoln Farms with Hustler and Vasari both set to lead
By Barry Lichter • 16 May 2019
Trainer Al Barnes is predicting a good night for Lincoln Farms on Saturday, confident of good results with both Northview Hustler and Vasari at Albion Park in Brisbane.
Barnes says he’s the most confident he’s been for a while with Vasari drawn the ace in a heat of the Young Drivers’ Championship at 8.45pm NZ time. And he believes Northview Hustler will stand up in his Queensland debut by playing catch-me-if-you can in the Flashing Red Handicap half an hour later.
Northview Hustler … licking the bowl clean in his new home at Marburg.After Barnes trialled Hustler last Tuesday, and he won by 62 metres, he stipulated he’d only start the horse on Saturday night if he recovered well and ate up.
And today he says he’s been absolutely delighted with Hustler “who has been licking the bin clean every day.
“I can’t fault him. I normally feed 4kg of grain to my horses but I’ve been giving him 6kg, plus chaff and hay, and all he’s left is a handful of chaff scraps.
“I think we’ve got him spot on. Hayden jogged him in the cart this morning and said he felt bright.’’
Barnes believes Hustler can make the most of his front row draw on Saturday night by getting away fast, thanks to some expert tips from his regular driver in New Zealand, Andre Poutama.
Poutama, who is in Brisbane for a wedding on Saturday night, and drove a couple of “slow” horses for the stable at the races today, has given his new driver some good pointers, says Barnes.
Andre Poutama, pictured getting a well done kiss from co-owner Carl Officer, is in Brisbane and has given a few pointers on Hustler and his quirks“Hayden stood him flat footed and let him amble away in the trial but we’ll keep him moving and on his toes on Saturday, and give him a smack on the bum.’’
A smart beginning is crucial for Hustler’s chances on Saturday in a field where he has strong opposition on both the 10 metre and 20 metre handicaps.
“Everyone over here knows he’s got ability and I’m hoping he’ll have respect and get the front.
“And if he’s running fast in front it’s going to make it awfully hard for the others to catch him.
“He’s got youth on his side whereas a lot of the rest are older. Hughie Green’s probably the class horse but he’s getting on and is coming back from injury so it’s a tough ask for him.’’
Many in the field will also struggle to see out the 2647 metres, says Barnes. “Mo Casino will but not if he’s pressured.’’
“I’m confident Hustler is going to do a good job over here.’’
A round from home last Friday and Vasari is bolting out of control, with the field strung out behind him.Very bullish on Vasari
Barnes says Sportsbet has Hustler a $3 favourite in the early market for the Flashing Red but punters can get as much as $7 for Vasari in the fourth race.
“I’m the most confident I’ve been for quite a while about a horse because he’s back to a mile and he’s drawn one.’’
Vasari will be driven by 18-year-old Taleah McMullen and Barnes says the lightly framed junior should suit the horse well.
“She’s only got to let him run 27.5 out of the gate and roll 29 quarters and he should lead all the way.’’
Barnes says there won’t be any repeat of last Friday’s run by Vasari when he was out of control in the lead and stopped to sixth over 2138 metres.
The run was in complete contrast to his debut Queensland run when Barnes took off his hood and the horse never got warm at the back of the field.
“He only got all fired up like that because we tried to wake him up by giving him a smack on the bum in his preliminary and out of the gate.
“But we know now how to switch him on and off. He’ll wear a pulling bit on Saturday night, as well as the hood, and he’ll be controllable.
“If Taleah can lead, he should run 1:52, and comfortably.’’
Barnes is hoping he can start off the night on a good note with former Lincoln Farms’ horse Lincoln Road in the third race at 8.15pm.
“He’s drawn eight but it’s only an eight horse field and I reckon he can knock them off.’’
Vasari races at 8.45pm NZ time on Saturday night.
Northview Hustler races at 9.14pm NZ time on Saturday night.
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Deb dresses her latest ‘Copy’ weanling in white and he delivers a Major coup
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
