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.
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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.”
