Hustler still agonisingly close to NZ Cup start - with no sign of defectors

Northview Hustler still sits agonisingly close to a New Zealand Cup start after the latest rankings were released today.

Hustler stays at 16th in the entry order for the 15-horse feature on November 13, the only real mover in the last week being Eamon Maguire who jumped to eighth after his win in the Flying Stakes at Ashburton last Monday.

Hustler’s chances of getting a defection diminished slightly yesterday when the cloud hanging over the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained Thefixer lifted slightly at the Rangiora trials.

Back early, Thefixer looped the field to lead the 2600 metre heat for Rasmussen and was collared only late by stablemate Cruz Bromac and Purdon. With only half a neck between them they clocked 3:25.3 for the trip, home in fast sectionals of 56.5 and 26.2.

Thefixer had missed crucial work, and been confined to a water walker, after getting an abscess in a front foot.

A G’s White Socks battles Dream About Me, inner, in last month’s Hannon Memorial at Oamaru.Hustler fans might also be off in pinning their hopes on A G’s White Socks not starting in the cup despite the fact the horse tailed the field all the way at Ashburton and beat only one home.

A G’s White Socks’ driver Ricky May says the horse felt good and was simply the victim of a poor start and very fast run-race.

“I thought he felt 100% sound which he wasn’t the week before.” Taken off the track after his preliminary to the Methven Cup, trainer Greg Hope found the horse had a sore back and treated his sacroiliac.

“I think he slipped over on some concrete at home before he came to the track. Greg had worked him that morning and he was as good as gold.”

A G’s White Socks, who broke at the start then came widest on the home bend in the Flying Stakes, had no chance of making ground, says May, with the final 400 metres cut out in 26.4.

May says A G’s White Socks goes best when fresh and may not appear again, the cup trial at Addington a likely final target.

Captain Dolmio … has solid 3200 metre form but not quite on his game.Captain Dolmio grinning and bearing it

Meanwhile, 15th-ranked Captain Dolmio is still New Zealand Cup-bound despite two sub par efforts in recent weeks.

Trainer Robert Dunn says the horse has had a couple of issues and hasn’t been pacing so well since he got down on his bumpers really badly one night.

“He also didn’t handle the wet track at Addington (in the Canterbury Classic) when it was very loose on the inside.

“But he’s not pacing as well as he can and almost galloped round the home turn on Monday.”

Captain Dolmio, second to Heaven Rocks in the Easter Cup (3200m) at Addington in April, finished one place ahead of Hustler at Ashburton.

The next vital cup lead-up is Monday’s $50,000 Kaikoura Cup when three horses will be out to leapfrog Hustler in the rankings - Locharburn (19th), Billy Badger (20th) and Raukapuka Ruler (21st).

But they will have to contend with safe cup runners Star Galleria, Methven Cup winner Cruz Bromac, Eamon Maguire and No Doctor Needed.