Cup rankings lift sees Hustler get air points after all

Northview Hustler will be on a plane south early tomorrow morning after all, his chances of a New Zealand Trotting Cup start improved dramatically by the latest rankings.

And Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green says the horse is in the right shape to further press his claims in Monday’s Flying Stakes at Ashburton.

Northview Hustler had sat on 18th in the qualifying order for the November 13 feature, a position which upset his connections after his sizzling Spring Cup win.

But when the latest list was released this afternoon, he had advanced to 16th, courtesy of another strong showing when third in last Friday night’s Holmes DG at Auckland, despite breaking and being slow to find his straps.

The revised ranking gives Green and the Northview Hustler partnership more confidence that he will get a start in the 15-horse $800,000 cup, a race that Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street and his partners would dearly love to contest.

Street has not had a cup runner in the 40 years he has been racing horses and many of his partners are rookies, on a ride few get to enjoy.Craig Sharpe … riding shotgun with Northview Hustler

Green initially rebelled against the NZ Met’s snubbing of northern races as automatic cup qualifiers, turning his focus to the Melbourne Interdominions which start 18 days after the cup.

But he wants to do the best thing by the horse and believes a southern campaign is preferable.

Hustler still really needed another year and more experience to toughen up before tackling Australia’s best on their home turf, an exercise which would see little change from $30,000.

The horse would also have few options for his immediate racing if he didn’t travel south. Few horses of his class are in training in the north and he might be forced to start in $17,000 events at Auckland from long marks.

In Canterbury he has Monday’s $50,000 Flying Stakes and the $35,000 Junior Free-for-all on cup day if he missed the cut for the cup. There is also the $200,000 NZ Free-for-all on Show Day.

Northview Hustler will be joined on the flight by Beaudiene Western, who will also race at Ashburton in preparation for the $170,000 Sires’ Stakes Final on cup day.

He will race in the interests of his new West Australian owner after a lucrative six figure sale last Monday.

They will be stabled at West Melton with Ken Barron at Toliman Lodge, in the care of Lincoln Farms’ stable foreman Craig Sharpe.

White Socks on the improve

Meanwhile trainer Greg Hope says he’s confident Methven Cup defector AG’s White Socks, who sits 10th in the cup order, will be fully recovered in time to contest Monday’s Flying Stakes.

Driver Ricky May pulled the horse off the track at Methven last Sunday reporting he felt lame in his off hind leg in the warm-up.

When examined later in the day AG’s White Socks was found to have swelling to the sacroiliac joint in his back but Hope told stewards today subsequent treatment has been successful and he has been pleased with the horse’s work.

Hope says AG’s White Socks is close to full health again but the horse remains stood down pending a veterinary clearance.

Thefixer sound again

Co-trainer Mark Purdon told stewards Thefixer had recovered from an abscess in a front foot and if he continued anticipated improvement he would resume at Addington on November 2.

Thefixer, who is guaranteed a cup start, had been confined to a water walker since his disappointing last start run in the Avon City Ford Cup but paced soundly on Thursday morning.

Purdon plans to trial the horse next week. He remains stood down pending a veterinary clearance.