From the second row it looks like mission impossible for Hustler on Saturday night

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.