Hustler gets better draw but he’s still not 100% so don’t expect too much on Saturday night

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.