Northview Hustler is lethal in front as he showed when winning at Albion Park two starts back. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Speed wobbles behind him, Hustler can lead and be very hard to beat on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 4 March 2021
Northview Hustler might have got the speed wobbles and galloped last start but trainer Al Barnes is confident he can go close to winning at Albion Park on Saturday night.
The Hustler draws six on the front line, the same handicap that saw him taken back off the gate last start, but Barnes says with nothing like the same speed drawn inside him this time the plan will be to blast the gate and lead.
“He should cross them without using too much petrol and find the fence first and from there he’ll be very hard to beat.
“I can’t see anything having the speed to hold him out. The one (Chevron’s Reward) should take a sit on us.”
Barnes says the Hustler is “good as gold and ready to go” after being treated for sore feet and having his troublesome fetlock injected since his last race.
“He just got the speed wobbles last time and whacked himself on the home turn, galloping just when Hayden thought he was going to run straight past them.
“On Saturday he should be leading and going very close to winning though Secretagent Tycoon will be hard to beat.”
Hayden Barnes brings back Larry Lincoln after scoring in a 1:54.6 mile rate last month. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Larry’s big test
Barnes is also looking forward to Larry Lincoln’s first test against stronger company in the third race and he is confident he can make the step up.
“It’s a much harder field than he’s beaten in his last two starts but I’ve always said that this class will suit him. The time they run won’t matter.”
Under the preferential barrier draw Larry Lincoln, as the lowest rating horse, gets the pole, from where Barnes says he should be in front or behind the leader.
“I don’t think the two (Feelingforarainbow) will hold him out and the three (Maywyns Courage) should take a sit.
“We’ve just got to play our cards right and hand up to the right horse or we’ll end up three fence. We might even lead, we’ll have to see.”
Larry Lincoln, who has won his last two starts and has been the subject of overseas interest this week, will need to be right on his A game as while he has scored in mile rates of 1:54.6 and 1:54.7 for 1660 metres, his rivals have been pacing much faster.
When Maywyns Courage scored two starts back he ran a mile rate of 1:52.1 and the newcomer to Queensland Our Wall Street Wolf clocked 1:50.6 in winning a mile at Menangle in January before pulling up slightly lame in the near hind leg at his last start.
Northview Hustler races at 8.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Larry Lincoln races at 9.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Omaha Lincoln
4.49pm
“He’s never been to Cambridge, and it’s his first time off the place, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go well - he’s certainly got enough speed to do the business. It’s guesswork trying to assess him against the others but I think he’ll do everything right so he’s a chance.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
6.51pm
“She is a bit one-dimensional - she’ll take charge of proceedings when the gate leaves. She could get parked but if she got a cheque I’d be happy.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.22pm
“He was taking ground off the winner last week and I don’t think the step up to 2700 will make much difference, he’s race fit now. He’ll do what he can do, he’s no champion, but he’s got the draw, he steps well and he won’t be far away.”
Race 7: Lincoln Wave
7.52pm
“The draw is awkward over the sprint distance at Cambridge but he’s absolutely capable of being right in the fray if he happened to get a good trip - he’s an improver every time he goes to the races. Not many of the others have run 1:54.”
Race 7: Sammy Lincoln
7.52pm
“I thought he did well to finish third last week after being parked out. The draw makes it very hard but he’s got real speed and if he dropped into it late, it wouldn’t surprise me if he got home really well.”
Race 10: Spiritual Bliss
9.24pm
“They’ll know they’ve been to the races if she gets any kind of trip. She was parked the whole way last time in 1:52 and wasn’t far off them. I don’t really want to see her parked again but you’d think Tytate would duck for cover knowing we’d say in front. She’s tough and reliable - she hasn’t gone a bad race since we’ve had her - and you know she’ll put herself in the race.”
Race 10: Ultimate Cullect
9.24pm
“The outside is not a good draw for her but, if they go hard, it will suit her.”
