Adam Richardson brings Northview Hustler back after his last win at Albion Park last September. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Al prescribes quiet trial for Hustler today: It will be a month before he’s ready to rumble
By Barry Lichter • 2 June 2020
Northview Hustler will take the next step on the comeback trail with a quiet trial at Albion Park this evening.
Lincoln Farms Queensland flag bearer will take on five mediocre rivals at 6.28pm NZ time in what trainer Al Barnes says is likely to be the first of three trials.
“He’s sound and doing well - I can’t fault him - but he has a fair bit of work to do to bring him up to race fitness.
“It’s a weak field today, and he has only five rivals, so he should be able to have nice cruisy trial, and run 1:55 or 1:56 comfortably.”
Barnes is determined not to rush the Hustler back to the races after his latest setback when persistent swelling in his off front fetlock saw Barnes send him for an MRI scan at the University Of Queensland’s Gatton Equine Specialist Hospital.
Relieved that it turned out to be little more than the equivalent of a sprained wrist, Barnes put the horse back into training with a view to tackling the COVID-19 pared back winter features.
“I’m not going to push him - when he’s ready he’s ready - and he could be a month away from racing.
“You don’t want to be going into these races half right as he’ll be up against Colt Thirty One, Hectorjayjay and other good horses like Glenferrie Hood and running 1:52, 1:53 and I don’t want to break his heart.”
The first of the three Albion Park features is just under six weeks away, the A$20,830 Wondai’s Mate (1660m) on July 11, followed by the A$25,630 Mr Feelgood (2138m) on July 18 and the A$25,630 Lucky Creed (2680m) on July 25.
Northview Hustler performed creditably, without much luck, at the winter carnival last year before being sidelined by a minor tendon tear.
More news in Harness
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
HRNZ boss Brad Steele resigns after less than two years; chairman praises his work
$101 monster upset! - Lincoln Wave makes the most of lucky break and fills plenty of pockets
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
