Wear and tear is getting to Northview Hustler who always gives 100% in the high speed Albion Park racing. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Fast sectionals take their toll on the Hustler - and speed battle took down Man Of Action too
By Barry Lichter • 27 October 2020
Northview Hustler will have his fetlock joint injected today after pulling up lame from his unlucky run at Albion Park on Saturday night.
The Hustler ran last behind Turn It Up but still ran faster closing sectionals than the winner despite being held up for a run in the home straight.
But the Hustler’s low flying 54.81 and 27.46 took its toll and Barnes sought veterinary treatment for the horse immediately afterwards to reduce inflammation in his joint.
Stewards later stamped the vet’s recommendation that the horse not race for the next 10 days, time which Barnes says he will use to treat the joint again.
Barnes is now battling wind galls, swellings around the joint resulting from concussion, which instead of being spongy have hardened but are still causing pain.
Barnes was hoping to take the Hustler back to the local university whose previous treatment got the best result as subsequent efforts by local vets have not been so effective.
While that would involve more scans, Barnes believes the Hustler’s performances warrant the expense.
“It’s such a shame as he’s going as well as he’s ever raced. But that joint is an ongoing problem which needs maintenance.”
Barnes says he should have the Hustler ready to race again on Saturday week.
In the meantime, Man Of Action goes round in the seventh race today, driver Brendan Barnes handicapped by a second row draw.
“We’ll be relying on luck from there and will just have to wait to see how the race pans out. Brendan may punch through and try to be handy but I’ll leave it up to him.”
Barnes says it’s best to disregard Man Of Action’s failure last week when his fifth placing blotted his consistent form line since arriving in Queensland.
The horse was involved in a hectic three-way fight for the lead which saw the opening quarter run in a blistering 26.9.
And even after Man Of Action made the front he was savaged by second favourite The Fortunate Son, resulting in a second 400 of 28.8 for a 55.7 first half.
Commentator Chris Barsby rightly noted Man Of Action “was out of bullets” on the home turn but he battled away to finish 14 metres from the winner while The Fortunate Son stopped badly to last.
Barnes believes the performance will have earned the horse respect the next time he leads.
Man Of Action races at 7.42pm NZ time at Albion Park today.
More news in Harness
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
