Al’s surprise for keen Kiwi owners - Hustler’s all go to resume on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 16 June 2020
Northview Hustler will be a surprise starter on Saturday night after winning his third trial on end at Albion Park this afternoon.
The Hustler toyed with his inferior rivals today, two other pacers and eight trotters unable to match his high speed in front.
Trainer Al Barnes wanted Lincoln Farms’ Queensland flag bearer to start over 2138 metres today, not 1660 metres, to increase his fitness for the upcoming Redcliffe Cup and the only option was the standing heat against mostly trotters.
The Hustler showed his rustiness from the stand too as he cantered for a dozen strides before driver Hayden Barnes got him to fill his hopples, but he was still able to find the front soon after the start.
From there on it was a procession, as none of the trotters could make ground from their handicaps with the Hustler reeling off a 55 last half and 26.9 quarter.
Northview Hustler is not tested to downs Subtle Delight today.He hit the line full of running, three metres in front of Subtle Delight, with the other pacer Elzboy another 19.5 metres astern, clocking a mile rate of 1:59.1.
Barnes wasn’t too concerned by the six-year-old’s poor beginning, even though he has only 11 days until the $25,630 Redcliffe Cup, a standing start Listed feature over 2613 metres.
“The ones on 40 metres were mucking around for a while and he was just caught a bit flat footed. We know he needs to be angled out and dragged down at the start.
“He stepped horribly in his Tuesday trial before the Flashing Red last year and was perfect in the race.
“We’ll give him a little more practice at home and I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
New cushion shoes
The most encouraging aspect of Hustler’s trial today was the way he paced in new cushion shoes.
Barnes trialled the horse with an aluminium shoe, under which he fitted a pad, with dozens of small holes, through which silicon gel was squirted to act as a super shock absorber.
“Hayden said he warmed up horribly but once he got going he was fine. We wanted to make sure he handled the shoes and Hayden said he paced perfectly.”
Barnes had been a little wary about the Hustler being scratchy in behind in his two previous trials but after being injected last week, the horse was much freer in his action today.
“Hayden said the horse won it quite easily and that’s good because we didn’t want to knock him around four days out from the race.”
Barnes originally intended bringing Hustler back to Albion Park on Sunday for a fast training run but has since decided he might as well race to gain just that little bit more fitness for Redcliffe, the first of four winter features in the post-COVID Queensland calendar.
“I wouldn’t have raced him on Saturday had it been a mile but the race is over 2138 metres, which is perfect for him.”
The race is programmed to have a stake of A$14,540.
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
