Trainer Al Barnes with driver son Hayden after winning the Flashing Red with Northview Hustler last May. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Hustler gets better draw but he’s still not 100% so don’t expect too much on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 6 March 2020
Saturday night’s race at Albion Park won’t be easy for Northview Hustler who is still on the mend after his aborted trip to New South Wales.
Trainer Al Barnes made the decision to bring the horse home after he first had infections blow out of his heels on the morning of his first race then he missed out on getting a start the following week.
And while he says the Hustler missed only one fast training session in Sydney and has been working solidly since returning home nine days ago, his feet are still not 100 percent.
“His feet are still growing out and are a bit sensitive but 90 percent of horses have sore feet. He got new shoes on today but he hasn’t trialled so we don’t know where he’s at fitness wise.”
Barnes says even though Hustler has drawn three, his best alley in three starts since resuming, he is surrounded by horses with high gate speed, Smooth Showgirl, Sams The Master and Glenferrie Hood all gate flyers.
“I don’t know where he’ll end up. We’ll be aggressive, go forward and have a crack because we know he can do it tough, but it’s going to be a fast-run mile.
“We’d like to be in front but I don’t know if they’ll give us that respect with his form.”
Despite all that Barnes says he’s hoping to see something from the Hustler with some decent races coming up for him in the next six weeks.
“But whatever he does tomorrow night he’ll improve on.”
Northview Hustler races at 10.41pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
