Wear and tear is getting to Northview Hustler who always gives 100% in the high speed Albion Park racing. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Fast sectionals take their toll on the Hustler - and speed battle took down Man Of Action too
By Barry Lichter • 27 October 2020
Northview Hustler will have his fetlock joint injected today after pulling up lame from his unlucky run at Albion Park on Saturday night.
The Hustler ran last behind Turn It Up but still ran faster closing sectionals than the winner despite being held up for a run in the home straight.
But the Hustler’s low flying 54.81 and 27.46 took its toll and Barnes sought veterinary treatment for the horse immediately afterwards to reduce inflammation in his joint.
Stewards later stamped the vet’s recommendation that the horse not race for the next 10 days, time which Barnes says he will use to treat the joint again.
Barnes is now battling wind galls, swellings around the joint resulting from concussion, which instead of being spongy have hardened but are still causing pain.
Barnes was hoping to take the Hustler back to the local university whose previous treatment got the best result as subsequent efforts by local vets have not been so effective.
While that would involve more scans, Barnes believes the Hustler’s performances warrant the expense.
“It’s such a shame as he’s going as well as he’s ever raced. But that joint is an ongoing problem which needs maintenance.”
Barnes says he should have the Hustler ready to race again on Saturday week.
In the meantime, Man Of Action goes round in the seventh race today, driver Brendan Barnes handicapped by a second row draw.
“We’ll be relying on luck from there and will just have to wait to see how the race pans out. Brendan may punch through and try to be handy but I’ll leave it up to him.”
Barnes says it’s best to disregard Man Of Action’s failure last week when his fifth placing blotted his consistent form line since arriving in Queensland.
The horse was involved in a hectic three-way fight for the lead which saw the opening quarter run in a blistering 26.9.
And even after Man Of Action made the front he was savaged by second favourite The Fortunate Son, resulting in a second 400 of 28.8 for a 55.7 first half.
Commentator Chris Barsby rightly noted Man Of Action “was out of bullets” on the home turn but he battled away to finish 14 metres from the winner while The Fortunate Son stopped badly to last.
Barnes believes the performance will have earned the horse respect the next time he leads.
Man Of Action races at 7.42pm NZ time at Albion Park today.
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
