Bring on Saturday week: Hustler trials in white hot 1:52.4 - and, get this, he cruised it!

Northview Hustler showed he was ready to pick up his career where he left off on Saturday week when he roared round Albion Park in a white hot mile rate of 1:52.4 today.

In only his second trial back after injuring a tendon when winning last September, the Hustler trialled against vastly inferior rivals over 1660 metres, trainer Al Barnes telling his son Hayden to give him a decent hitout.

Taken back off the gate early, Barnes allowed the horse to balance up before unleashing him three wide round the field to claim the top at the bell.

Barnes upped the tempo before the 400 metres mark and Northview Hustler quickly streaked 20 metres clear before hitting the wire a staggering 40 metres clear of his rivals.

In commentator Chris Barsby’s words, Northview Hustler is in one trial and the others are in another, as he romps clear to win by 40 metres.But it wasn’t the margin that impressed both driver and trainer - the horse’s opposition wasn’t up to much, third-placed It’s Super Easy is one of Lincoln Farms’ new crop with Barnes who hasn’t even started racing yet.

The time was the telling factor, for while Hustler sprinted home in 55.3 and 27.1, he also worked hard early.

“They actually went quicker early than we thought they would,” said Al Barnes. “Hayden knew he’d gone a bit quick in that second quarter but he was rapt with how he felt - to run up in 27, and cruising, after doing that much work early was terrific.”

The enormity of the run is illustrated by the fact that Hustler ran faster today than Ohoka Punter did when taking the Group I Sunshine Sprint in 1:53.2 last season, when Hustler was an unlucky fourth.

“Good horses can run times like that and he’ll have to be every bit ready when he races on Saturday week as it will be a decent field and won’t be an easy race.

“But he won’t have to go any better in the race than he did today.”

Hustler is cruising at the post after final sectionals in 55.3 and 27.1.Barnes says his son was especially pleased with how the horse pulled up.

“He’s pretty big in condition - he’s bigger and stronger than he’s ever been, bigger than you could imagine - and he had a groove an inch deep in his back afterwards.”

Barnes says it was important for the Hustler to have a strong trial today to make sure his legs would hold up and to assess his recovery in the next few days.

“But he’s sound and he went straight to the feed bin afterwards.

“He’s ready to go and we just have to hope he draws well.”

Northview Hustler is one of the highest rated horses in Queensland on 117 and would normally draw badly on the second line but the race Barnes has targeted has a random barrier draw.

“It’s obviously easier when you’re in front but we also know he’s got the speed to come from behind, we’ve seen it from him time and time again.”

It’s Super Easy crosses the line in third place today, pacing a mile rate of 1:55.3.A second highlight from today’s trial was the performance of unraced Art Major three-year-old Super Easy, renamed It’s Super Easy in Queensland.

The horse was having his first official trial since being shipped to Barnes in November and in finishing 42.7 metres third behind Northview Hustler paced a mile rate of 1:55.3.

Super Easy got a glowing report from Barnes’ other son Brendan, who said the horse can really run and was very impressive.

“He hung out a little in the straight and got in on the turn but that’s just greenness. Brendan said he paced nicely and didn’t feel like galloping at any stage.

“He’ll have anther couple of trials before he races so we can find out what he can and can’t do. We want to be sure that he’s 100 percent right before he takes the next step.

“Brendan says he feels like he’s got good gate speed so we might let him roll out next time and make sure that he’s safe.”

It’s Super Easy is a bother to fast Queensland pacer Alleluia, winner of 35 races and A$574,332 in stakes.