From the second row it looks like mission impossible for Hustler on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 28 June 2019
Trainer Al Barnes knows Northview Hustler will need a lot of luck to feature in Saturday night’s feature race at Albion Park.
Drawn two on the second row over only 1660 metres the Wondai’s Mate looks a near impossible task with the favourite Colt Thirty One and stablemate Ohoka Punter beautifully spotted on the front.
Barnes is just hoping that the Hustler can get a crack at them and run into the placings to keep his form line looking half decent so he gets into the upcoming winter carnival features.
“If they go 1:51 or 1:52 and run 27 quarters it makes it impossible for us to get into the race. And then all of a sudden we might have a form line of 047 next to our name, instead of 111 and, from being one of the favourites for the Blacks A Fake, we’ll be lucky to get a run.’’
The dilemma for Barnes is he can’t keep Hustler sitting on the sideline protecting his formline. He has to run the horse to improve his fitness if he’s to be any chance in the big ones.
“The good thing is he’s still improving,’’ says Barnes.
“His run in the Redcliffe Cup was very good but we have to try to avoid what happened to us there.
“We have to hope nothing slow pulls out in front of us.’’
At Redcliffe Hayden Barnes pulled Hustler into the three wide train behind Saloon Passage a lap from home but when that horse went nowhere he had no choice but to unleash a fast run four wide at the 400.
“He’d have been better off moving up three wide by himself - that horse just got in his way for 400 metres.’’
Northview Hustler can’t reproduce this front-running form when he’s snowed away on the back line.Barnes can see a horrible scenario develop where Mach Alert, a gate flier drawn to lead in two, races to the front and the Grant Dixon pair Colt Thirty One and Ohoka Punter camp right on the speed.
“Grant likes to back right off when he gets the chair and I can see they’ll get a soft lead and first quarter, unless something like Saloon Passage cuts his throat and attacks them.
“If the first half’s not quick, in say 57, it will make it impossible for us to get into it. They’ll come home in 27 and 27.’’
Northview Hustler has two more weeks to stake his claim for the A$250,000 Blacks A Fake on July 20.
On Saturday week it’s the Listed A$25,000 Lucky Creed (2680m) and the following week, July 13, the Group II A$100,000 Sunshine Sprint (1660m).
“We just have to pray for a barrier draw, because with our racing that’s so important. If you’re not handy or one, two, three the fence you’re no hope. If the leaders back off even one quarter then run 27 quarters home, it’s very hard to come four and five wide.’’
Stablemate Vasari is stuck in the same draw as Northview Hustler, two the second row, in the second race but Barnes is surprisingly happy with that.
“I want to drive him with a sit. He doesn’t have to be killed, he can come with one run at them and earn a cheque.
“I’ll just be patient and he’ll be competitive.’’
Barnes also drove Vasari conservatively last start when fourth at Redcliffe, where he came from three back on the markers, sprinting well when finally clear.
Vasari races at 7.17pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
Northview Hustler races at 9.07pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
More news in Harness
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
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
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.”
