What a ripper! Watch this heart-racing home stretch burst wide out by Northview Hustler
By Barry Lichter • 19 October 2020
Northview Hustler’s sizzling home stretch sprint at Albion Park on Saturday night raised his connections’ hopes for the upcoming Brisbane summer carnival.
The game seven-year-old turned in the best performance seen on the newly surfaced track when he came from last on the home turn, all but reeling in state champion Colt Thirty One with a withering late run for a close third.
His closing half and quarter were a full second faster than the winner’s and in making up 16 metres from the 800 he ran 54.79 and 26.37, easily the best in the race and on the night.
The run surprised even trainer Al Barnes who warned pre-race that the horse, resuming from a month’s break, would be driven quietly and go back from his wide draw.
Driver Hayden Barnes showed fine patience on the $21 outsider and did not move until turning for home, when he was forced four and five wide before unleashing his run.
Northview Hustler’s closing sectional times were super impressive.“You wouldn’t find better sectionals than those,” said Al Barnes.
“And I’m sure the softer track helped him run to his true ability.”
Times have been slower and horses have found it hard to make ground from the back since the track was recambered and topped but for an injury-plagued Hustler it’s been made to order.
“It helped him out of sight on Saturday - he didn’t jar up. But he still didn’t pull up the greatest. There’s still a bit of swelling in his fetlock.
“But I should be able to maintain him. I’ve got him on every joint supplement I can find. It’s costly but he’s shown he can still foot it with them and there’s some good racing coming up.”
Barnes is hoping the Hustler can now put together some good, consistent form in the six week run-up to the summer carnival.
The three races he is being aimed at are:
* The Group Three A$30,660 Be Good Johnny Sprint (1660m) on November 28
* The Group Two A$50,660 Queensland Cup (2138m) on December 5 and
* The Group One A$175,660 Blacks A Fake (2680m) on December 12.
“They’re not that far away. We’ll miss a week here and there but he should be right come the end of next month.”
Colt Thirty One, who sat in the death to win his 42nd race from 73 starts, clocked a mile rate of 1:54.4 for the 1660 metres, downing Justalittle Torque by 1.6 metres with half a head to Northview Hustler.
Northview Hustler, closest, flies late to run a close third to Colt Thirty One and Justalittle Torque.
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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.”
