Hustler’s the class horse but he’ll still need to show some heart on Tuesday, says Al
By Barry Lichter • 27 May 2019
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.
More news in Harness
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Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
