Hustler big on the clock today - and it’s only 18 more sleeps until we see him back

Northview Hustler took another big step to the A$25,630 Redcliffe Gold Cup in 18 days when he scorched round Albion Park in a 1:53.2 mile rate this afternoon.

Firing straight to the lead from his outside draw, the Hustler led all the way over the 1660 metres, reeling off his last 800 metres in a slick 54.1 and 400 in 26.6.

Best of all, driver Hayden Barnes never put the horse under pressure to win by five metres over Mymatepog with classy mare Smart As Camm Be another 7.8 metres away in third.

“Hayden said he did it within himself,” said trainer Al Barnes. “But he needed a good hitout. His heart rate after ten minutes dropped from 100 to 87 so he’s still got a way to reach peak fitness. Last time he won here over 2138 metres his heart rate was 80.”

Barnes plans to trial the Hustler again next Tuesday when he will step the horse up to 2138 metres, meaning he will need to contest a standing start.

But Barnes is determined to have the Hustler super fit for his resumption as the Listed event at Redcliffe is run over the longer 2613 metres.

Northview Hustler is under no pressure to clock 1:53.2 today.He will top off his Redcliffe preparation by bringing the horse to Albion Park on Sunday week for a fast 2400 metre training run.

“It was nice to blast him out today and see him run a quick quarter as we now know if we draw wide we can run the gate and put ourselves into the race.

“He’s had it easy for while now, going back and running home, but we all know how tough he is - he just needed a bit of a reminder.

“He’s just got to stand up now. He was still a little scratchy in behind today but the vet is coming tomorrow to work on him. It’s nothing major he’s just got to fix up some little niggles.

“He’s a bit hoppy gaited when he’s going slow so he’s pinching somewhere in the back end.”

While Hustler was big on the clock today Barnes wasn’t getting carried away with his easily accounting for Smart As Camm Be and Lilac Flash.

“They were just there for a quiet trail in their first start back from tendon injuries.”

While Barnes is keen for Northview Hustler to contest the Redcliffe Cup on June 27 he says that race is not the main target.

It’s for the last two of the three Albion Park features in July - the A$25,630 Mr Feelgood (2138m) on July 18 and A$25,630 Lucky Creed (2680m) a week later - when he will have the horse really firing.