The undoubted highlight for Northview Hustler’s owners was his Spring Cup win in September. PHOTO: Race Images
Hustler out but he’ll come back bigger and better - as a gelding
By Barry Lichter • 20 December 2018
Northview Hustler is out of the Auckland Cup and into the paddock.
Trainer Ray Green made the decision to scratch the horse from his lead-up race at Auckland on Friday night after a substandard training session this morning.
And given Hustler is very light in condition, he will have three to four weeks off, during which time he will also be gelded.
Green says the five-year-old will stand a better chance of gaining weight if he is not a stallion, doing what stallions do, expending unnecessary energy both on and off the track.
Even before his work this morning Green relayed he was not happy with the horse who did not look himself even in his preliminary last week.
“He’s been training OK but he’s not the horse he can be. He’s as light as I’ve ever seen him.”
While it is a disappointing end to the campaign, Hustler’s owners missing out on a second cup run after his New Zealand Cup campaign was aborted, he still bagged the Spring Cup at Alexandra Park, beating Star Galleria, showing he had a future in the open ranks.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Cambridge
Lincoln Lover, Prince Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Lincoln Lou, Sugar Ray Lincoln.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm
“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”
Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm
“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm
“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”
