Tough assignment first-up for the Hustler but Al’s looking for a top three finish
By Barry Lichter • 31 January 2020
Northview Hustler has struck a tough race to resume in at Albion Park on Saturday night but trainer Al Barnes is confident the horse can still run top three.
After weeks of seeing the free-for-alls down on class, Barnes says it’s uncanny that, as soon as the Hustler is ready, “bang” in pops Queensland star Cost Thirty One and fellow good performer Watch Pulp Fiction.
One thing going for the Hustler is that he’s drawn three on the front line, one spot inside Colt Thirty One.
Barnes says ideally if Grant Dixon runs the gate hard then Hustler would too, land the death seat and park the Colt three wide.
“But being first-up we probably won’t do that. Even though he trialled in 1:52 he pulled up very big and is nowhere near 100% race fit.
“And this is not the telling part of the season. None of us will want to kill our horses. It’s not about Saturday night, this is just the first step in his campaign, so we’ll do the right thing by Hustler this week.”
Northview Hustler wins his trial 10 days ago by 40 metres in 1:52.4.Barnes says he’s not sure what his son Hayden will do with the Hustler early in his first race since injuring a tendon last September. Pole runner Zahven Banner likes to lead and the horse drawn two, Clintal Do, has enough gate speed to be a pest.
“I don’t think we could cross the one horse if he wants to lead but taking a trail on our back would be a smart tactic. Who knows, he might let us go?
“Having Adam Sanderson driving that horse is an asset. I think it changes the race a bit. He’s a quality driver and he’ll rate the horse well rather than just go out there to run a fast time.
“We should get our chance to get a good spot.”
Barnes says while he knows none of Hustler’s wins have been over a mile, he believes that’s just an anomaly.
“Any horse with his speed is capable of winning at any distance. And the miles he’s run have been in good feature company when he hasn’t had a lot of luck.”
Last July Hustler ran an unlucky fourth in Ohoka Punter’s Group I Sunshine Sprint, snookered in the one-one turning in and unable to find a gap in the run home. Between him and the winner were runner-up Colt Thirty One and Watch Pulp Fiction.
Colt Thirty One, who claims a best winning mile at Albion Park of 1:51.3, has had one race since returning from a fruitless Interdominion campaign at Auckland, impressively winning the Queensland Cup (2138m) on December 21, improving three wide to the death a lap out.
Watch Pulp Fiction, a well beaten ninth in that race, finished third as favourite 10 days ago behind Rock With Sam and Mach Alert.
“Hustler’s ready to go - he came out of the trial super - but whatever he does on Saturday he’ll improve on.”
Northview Hustler races at 10.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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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.”
