The undoubted highlight for Northview Hustler’s owners was his Spring Cup win in September. PHOTO: Race Images
Hustler out but he’ll come back bigger and better - as a gelding
By Barry Lichter • 20 December 2018
Northview Hustler is out of the Auckland Cup and into the paddock.
Trainer Ray Green made the decision to scratch the horse from his lead-up race at Auckland on Friday night after a substandard training session this morning.
And given Hustler is very light in condition, he will have three to four weeks off, during which time he will also be gelded.
Green says the five-year-old will stand a better chance of gaining weight if he is not a stallion, doing what stallions do, expending unnecessary energy both on and off the track.
Even before his work this morning Green relayed he was not happy with the horse who did not look himself even in his preliminary last week.
“He’s been training OK but he’s not the horse he can be. He’s as light as I’ve ever seen him.”
While it is a disappointing end to the campaign, Hustler’s owners missing out on a second cup run after his New Zealand Cup campaign was aborted, he still bagged the Spring Cup at Alexandra Park, beating Star Galleria, showing he had a future in the open ranks.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
6.18pm
“He was checked and locked wheels into the first turn last week and he had a decent puncture wound in his leg from where they ran into him so you certainly couldn’t condemn him for galloping. He’s a really nice horse, who is going to win races quickly. He hasn’t missed any work, and should be right in it.”
Race 3: Lincoln Wave
6.43pm
“He’s drawn wide again (six) but he’s good enough to get the job done. It’s a bit more of a test for him but there are no cup horses in there and he’s a pretty nice horse. We’ve waited for both him and Sammy Lincoln because of their setbacks at two but it’s been worth it.”
Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
7.11pm
“He was very tough in winning after sitting parked last week. He’s awkwardly drawn again but he tries hard and, with a bit of luck and a good trip, he can get some of it.”
Race 6: Tyson
8.08pm
“Completely forget his run last week when he had no luck in the running. He’s a definite chance.”
Race 6: Spiritual Bliss
8.08pm
“She took no harm from the incident last Friday and has trained on well. I think she’ll go well. If you analyse her run, they went down the back in 27.8 and she did well to finish on for fourth after sitting parked.”
