Just a walk in the Park for Hustler but bookies still screw down his odds for the big one
By Barry Lichter • 4 June 2019
Australian bookies reacted to Northview Hustler’s walk in the park at Albion Park today by elevating him to the third line of betting for next month’s A$200,660 Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship.
The Hustler is now at $4.50 and better fancied than Brisbane’s top pacer Colt Thirty One for the July 20 feature, which most of the horse’s New Zealand owners look like attending.
Trainer Al Barnes couldn’t remember lining up an easier winner than The Hustler today who strolled round the track to win unextended by nearly 10 metres in a pedestrian mile rate of 1:57.3, more than four seconds slower than his sizzling rate of last week.
Donned in his new green Lincoln Farms strip, driver Hayden Barnes asked Northview Hustler to run from the outside of the gate and he quickly crossed his rivals to lead inside the first 200 metres.
Form there he was able to crawl through the opening quarter of the last mile in 32.1.
Barnes upped the tempo a little to run 29.7 and 29.1 for the next two quarters before letting the little black run home in a dazzling 26.5.
And the Hustler did it all on his own, Barnes sitting quiet throughout the run home, with only one small slap of the left rein, prompting race caller Chris Barsby to declare: “That was like trackwork and I dare say he didn’t break a sweat.’’
Hustler’s overall time for the 2138 metres was 2:35.8, all of 5.5 seconds slower than his last run.
Driver Hayden Barnes hasn’t moved a muscle as Hustler strides clear in little more than a training run.
“We’ve had some pretty easy wins back in the day but Hayden said that was pretty cruisy,” said Barnes. “He just let him slide up the straight and didn’t need to do any more.
“It’s nice to run time but you don’t want to bust the horse and if you can get an easy win, that’s good.’’
Barnes noted no opposition was offered when Hustler burned off the gate and says it would be nice if he got the same respect in the upcoming feature races.
“His recovery was very quick and that will give him some extra fitness and confidence.’’
The win took the five-year-old’s earnings to A$21,422 from his three wins in Brisbane for a season tally of $36,375.
Northview Hustler paid $1.03 on the Australian tote and $1.10 in New Zealand, bookies here offering only $1.04 at the jump.
His next assignment is the Group III A$31,400 Redcliffe Cup (2613m) on June 22.
Hustler is in cruise mode, nearly 10 metres clear.
Trojan too good in 1:55.5
Meanwhile, stablemate Trojan Banner began his run towards the derbies with a slick 1660 metre trial win over older horses in 1:55.5.
Trojan Banner wins today’s trial in 1:55.5.Driver Hayden Barnes allowed the colt to drop out to the rear of the field before making a fast run three wide down the back straight to race in the breeze.
He claimed the leader before the home turn and finished strongly to score by 2.3 metres over 13-race winner Our Millwood Maizie.
“He won pretty comfortably but was hanging a little bit so we have some work to so,’’ says Al Barnes.
Trojan Banner is unbeaten in five starts in Brisbane.
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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.”
