Al’s surprise for keen Kiwi owners - Hustler’s all go to resume on Saturday night

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.