Hustler brave sitting parked in New Zealand record Flying Stakes
By Barry Lichter • 22 October 2018
The run of the race conspired to beat Northview Hustler in today’s Ashburton Flying Stakes and given how fast the race was run trainer Ray Green couldn’t find a bad word to say about Lincoln Farms’ NZ Cup candidate.
The record book will show Northview Hustler beat only two home but with the All Stars’ mare Dream About Me setting a New Zealand record pace and Hustler forced to breeze all the way, it said plenty for his courage that he finished only 5.9 lengths from winner Eamon Maguire who enjoyed a perfect trail.
The 2400 metre stand was cut out in 2:54.2, one tenth of a second faster than the previous national mark held by champion pacer Lazarus.
Incredibly it was two seconds faster than Lazarus took in winning the Flying Stakes last year, and the closing sectionals were an amazing 54.2 and 26.4.
It was only in the last 100 metres that Star Galleria (fourth) and Ultimate Machete (fifth) ran past Northview Hustler who kept trying right to the line for driver Andre Poutama.
“He wasn’t going to run past anybody going that time, was he,’’ says Green.
“I thought he went not too bad considering. He wasn’t that far away at the finish and he beat a couple who had good trips (A G’s White Socks and Letspendanitetogetha).
“For a few seconds there I thought he might even hang on for a cheque.
“The good thing was he looked good and he seemed to pull up good.
“We’ll give it a couple of days and see how he comes out of it before we decide on our next move.
“We’ll take a blood off him to eliminate the guess work and check there’s nothing wrong but I wouldn’t be expecting anything to show up.’’
From a New Zealand Cup point of view, nothing should change in the rankings for Hustler - all the horses who beat him home are already higher in the qualifying order.
He sits on 16th, one place shy of gaining a start.
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Nathan’s comments
Thurday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Dreams Of Eric
6.03pm
“He’s just come back from a two-week break and seems a lot better after the freshen-up. He’s training really well but this will be like a trial for him. There looks to be a lot of speed in the race so, from five, he won’t be put into the early rush. We’re still aiming him at the Harness 5000 at Ashburton in December.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Kevin Kline
4.44pm
“He was held up last week but still got home really well, hard on their backs and, with the right trip, he’ll be dangerous. But the race looks suited to a horse like Hooray Henry who, in a small field, can sit back and outsprint them.
Race 9: Tyson
8.54pm
“We were looking to sit in with him last week but it didn’t work out. He still ran on pretty well as he always does. He just needs a bit of luck.”
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
8.54pm
“Maurice was happy with her run last week and said she paced strongly through the line. From seven on the gate this week she’ll have to go back but I think she’s better coming from off the pace. She’s a good chance if she can get sucked into it at the right time.”
