Al’s working on Hustler’s niggles and says he’ll improve out of sight on Saturday night

Trainer Al Barnes has been treating Northview Hustler for problems with his back end this week and he is confident he can go close to winning at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Northview Hustler did what Barnes expected when resuming last week, blowing out in the run home, but over a longer distance this time, from two on he gate, he says the horse will improve out of sight.

“I reckon they’ll be flat out stopping him. I’m confident he can run first or second from that draw as he’ll get a sweet trip behind the leader (Smooth Showgirl) and he’ll only have to sprint for 200 metres.

“Hustler is very quick over 200 metres and he could even beat Smooth Showgirl.”

The Hustler showed a glimpse of his vintage speed last week when driver Hayden Barnes unleashed him from the one-one 400 metres out when the parked horse Sams The Master started paddling.

He quickly ranged up three wide turning in but when he normally would have kept sprinting, he soon ran out of puff.

“We knew he’d need the run,” says Barnes. “And Hayden didn’t knock him around when he’d had enough.”

Barnes says he’s been working on a number of issues which have been bothering the Hustler including a fetlock, his feet and back muscles.

When he had acupuncture last Sunday the operator was amazed the horse had been able to sprint at all last time.

His muscles were due to be massaged today and Barnes is continually icing his leg, rubbing him with linament and treating him with ultrasound.

“We’ll keep working on him until we get it under control. It’s hard to say how he’s come to have so many little problems. He could have rolled in his box or the paddock, he might be transferring weight, or it might be because he was using different muscles while on the water walker in Sydney.

“But we’re getting him back into a routine and he’ll come good. It might take him a run or two to get back to his best because we’re not working him hard at the moment but he’s bright and eating well so I’m expecting a big run this week.”

All four of Northview Hustler’s runs this time in have been over 1660 metres, a distance he has yet to win at. The last time he raced over 2138 metres he won and his best mile rate for the trip is 1:53.1, a lot quicker than Smooth Showgirl’s best of 1:54.3.

Northview Hustler races at 11.52pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.