Slick Hustler Lincoln Farms’ very own ATM machine - and they’re queuing up to pilot him

Trainer Al Barnes described Northview Hustler as an ATM machine for Lincoln Farms after his electric sprint home to win at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Gifted the perfect trail behind pacemaker Chantrey, the little black zipped up the passing lane for Brendan Barnes in a sizzling 26.7 to claim a two metre win.

The win, in a free-for-all worth A$14,700, saw his bankroll swell by A$7990, just the start of what Barnes predicts will be regular deposits.

“He’s one of the top three pacers in Queensland and should be in the top three nearly every week. He’s a good little ATM machine.”

In the absence of Colt Thirty One and Major Cam, Barnes says the Hustler should be ultra competitive, especially in races over 2138 metres.

“That trip plays into his hands. A lot of the Aussie horses are really only milers because they go so hard but Hustler loves it.

“Miles bring him back to the field - bad draws can bring you undone - but over 2138 metres if you draw badly you’ve got time to balance up.”

Barnes says his only worry last night was that Chantrey wouldn’t get Hustler to the lane, but the leader had got away with a pedestrian 32 first quarter, almost unheard of in that class.

It allowed a coiled-up Hustler to explode over his last 800 metres in 54.1 and win untouched.

Al Barnes and son Brendan who did the honours behind the Hustler last night.“I never had to turn the whip,” said Brendan Barnes, pinch hitting for his suspended older brother Hayden.

“I didn’t even have to chase him to hold the spot behind the leader, he did it under his own steam.

“I don’t think I’ve driven a horse as fast as him. He goes from cruising to top speed as soon as you ask him to go.”

But young Barnes will have to move over for older bro Hayden next week when dad says the horse should be even better.

“He’ll just keep improving every week. On fitness he’s getting close but there still a few little things we have to iron out, like his fetlock joints. He paced better last night but he still has corns in his feet.”

Barnes says Hustler also has a side to him that we haven’t seen yet.

“We haven’t had to race him tough yet and we know he’s capable of doing that.

“At the moment he’s too quick for them but he can sit in the chair too. He’s done it only once, and failed, but that was in a fast lead time against Colt Thirty One.”

Barnes says he may even kick Hayden out of the cart and take a drive himself behind Hustler.

“But I’ll wait until the right race comes along.”