Hustler’s the class horse but he’ll still need to show some heart on Tuesday, says Al

On ratings, Northview Hustler should simply have the wood on his rivals at Albion Park on Tuesday.

But trainer Al Barnes says drawn four on the second row, last week’s Flashing Red winner will still have to show some heart to win the final race at 8.17pm NZ time.

Hustler gets into the mobile 2138 metre race for c6 and c7 horses with a c7 rating but he carries a metropolitan mark of M4 compared with the M0 status of the rest of the field.

But while he will start favourite, Barnes says with talented filly Fame Assured (14 wins from 25 starts) in the field, he’s unlikely to be a raging hot pot.

“He’s the class horse of the field, no doubt, but our plan will be to try to stay in front of Fame Assured. We’ve got the best horse and will drive him accordingly and be aggressive.

“We’ll try to get round them pretty quickly. Hopefully if the race pans out as I hope it will, he’ll get a good run through at the start and be in front or in the chair.’’

Northview Hustler with driver Hayden Barnes and trainer Al Barnes after his fresh-up win nine days ago. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Barnes suspects the in-form Pinup Boy will get out fast from six, attack for the lead, and park Hustler. But Pinup Boy is likely to be running on empty at the finish of 2138 metres, he says.

“We’ll have to be tough this week and do a bit of work but even though it’s like a maiden voyage for us I’m still confident he’ll do well.

“The reports I’m getting are he’s as good in the chair as he is in front. He doesn’t have to be silly and run Vasari times, he just needs to be a tradesman, sit patient, and get the job done.’’ (Vasari clocked a supersonic 1:52 mile rate when winning last Friday night).

Barnes reports Hustler is very happy and seems a little better in his gait after some work on his stifles. Barnes noticed Hustler was quite hoppy in his action behind when winning the Flashing Red when he paced the 2647 metres from a stand in a mile rate of 1:57.3, just three tenths of a second outside the track record.

Natural improvement should see Hustler even sharper on Tuesday as that was his first race for five months.

Hustler’s first target remains the A$31,400 Redcliffe Cup (2613m) on June 22, with his ultimate goal the $A200,000 The Blacks A Fake Championship (2680m) on July 20.

Sportsbet has Hustler a $5 fifth favourite for that winter Group I feature behind Tiger Tara ($3.50), with Colt Thirty One, Our Uncle Sam and Poster Boy all on $4.

Northview Hustler races at 8.17pm NZ time on Tuesday.