Al: We’ll be in front after 400 metres - Hustler’s the one to beat in Redcliffe Gold Cup
By Barry Lichter • 26 June 2020
Northview Hustler might be on a 10 metre handicap in Saturday night’s A$25,630 Redcliffe Gold Cup but trainer Al Barnes says to expect him to be in front after 400 metres.
And from there, he says “good luck to those chasing him” as the horse has the speed to reel off a 54 last half round the tight triangular circuit.
“He’s a $3.60 favourite and in my opinion those are generous odds.
“For a horse like him, that steps so fast, 10 metres isn’t much of a handicap and we’re fairly confident of winning.
“Most of those horses on the front line won’t step like him. We don’t have that many stands over here and more than half of them will probably canter and be slow away.
“Hustler’s definitely the horse to beat. He’s improved through the week, has tightened up, and licked his bowl clean.”
Barnes was rapt with the Hustler’s first-up run last week when he all but beat Queensland champ Colt Thirty One at Albion Park in his first start for more than three months.
The Hustler looked to have the measure of Cost Thirty One when he dashed clear turning for home but just ran out of condition late, collared a long neck.
Top driver Pete McMullen, standing in for Barnes’ suspended son Hayden, did a great job considering he didn’t know the horse, and how much speed he had.
“And if we had won that race we’d have been a $1.80 favourite on Saturday.”
Barnes believes Northview Hustler is the best horse in the race and, while another backmarker Tennyson Bromac will provide tough opposition, he says the longer 2613 metres will really suit ther Lincoln Farms horse.
“It’s a good race for him and I expect him to beat them for speed even though a few might try to turn it into a staying test.
“But there are no Colt Thirty Ones in the field and Hayden’s back on this time.”
Barnes says after a horrible eight months when the Hustler has had one setback after another, he’s delighted the horse is finally sound again.
“It’s nice to have him back on the right track.”
Northview Hustler races at 10.07pm NZ time at Redcliffe 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.”
