Al fizzing about a rejuvenated Hustler who has the perfect draw to use his speed late

“They’ll know he’s alive if he’s on their backs.”

That’s the prediction of Northview Hustler’s trainer Al Barnes who admits to having renewed excitement about the Kiwi as he tackles the first of Queensland’s summer carnival features on Saturday night.

But it’s not just the fact that the Hustler drew perfectly in three for the A$30,000 Be Good Johnny Sprint at Albion Park that’s had Barnes walking with a spring in his step this week.

And it wasn’t the sensational closing sectionals that the Hustler posted again in his come-from-last first-up run last Saturday night.

Barnes’ confidence soared the most after the race and in the following days when it became obvious that the horse was pain-free for the first time in months.

Northview Hustler at his Marburg stable today, coat as “black as black with dapples.”“We haven’t had him this sound for ages,” says Barnes. “There’s no swelling in his fetlock and his feet look really good. The treatment programme we have him on has taken a while to work and for everything to settle.

“But he’s not feeling pain any more and he knows he won’t hurt so he has confidence in himself. He’s running on like he used to when he first came over from New Zealand.”

Last week, in his first race for a month, the Hustler was last at the bell, improved three wide with cover, then sprinted round four wide on the home turn, unleashing a huge sprint for fourth, just 3.8 metres off Brisbane champ Colt Thirty One.

He was credited with a closing 800 metres in 55.11 and 400 in 26.54, easily the fastest in the race. Colt Thirty One, who sat parked, clocked 56.16 and 26.96.

“His last three runs have all been really good and I’m sure it’s also because the track’s nice and soft now, not rock hard.”

The Hustler has had one his best weeks for a while, sharp in his Tuesday and Thursday fast work when worked two trips over 2400 metres, with a walk of the track in between.

“He’s been very bright and looks a treat. He’s black as black and has dapples in his coat.

“Hayden has done a good job looking after his leg, icing it each time after he works.”

Barnes estimates the Hustler’s fitness at 95% for the Be Good Johnny when he maps the horse to get a perfect one-one trip.

“I expect the two (Turn It Up) to cross the one (One Change) and Huss will go forward and sit on Colt Thirty One’s back.

“This run on Saturday will top him off and he’ll be spot on the next week. I’m getting a bit excited about the Blacks A Fake too.”

The Group I A$175,660 Blacks A Fake (2680m) is the last of the big three races at Albion Park on December 12.

The Hustler made up more than 15 metres on the leaders in the last 800 metres last week, recording easily the fastest sectional times.

Northview Hustler races at 11.47pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.