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
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”
