Al: We’ll be in front after 400 metres - Hustler’s the one to beat in Redcliffe Gold Cup

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.