Northview Hustler is jumping out of his skin in a new preparation.
Hustler will be ready for new winter features - but, uh-oh, there’s an old monster lurking
By Barry Lichter • 24 April 2020
Northview Hustler will be primed and ready for the late season feature races at Albion Park, says Lincoln Farms’ Queensland trainer Al Barnes.
Just two weeks after getting the all clear to resume training from the University Of Queensland’s Gatton Equine Specialist Hospital, Barnes says the Hustler is “jumping out of his skin.”
Barnes took Northview Hustler for an MRI earlier this month after prolonged bleeding in his off front fetlock and was delighted to hear the injury was little more than the equivalent of RSI from a sprained wrist.
Barnes has been ultra pleased with the Hustler since.
“He’s the soundest he’s been for the last six months and he’ll be fit by the time those big races come around.”
While the winter carnival was canned because of COVID-19, Queensland Racing has announced four feature races for the open class pacers through late June and July.
They will be:
* June 27 A$25,630 Redcliffe Gold Cup 2613m
* July 11 A$20,830 Wondai’s Mate 1660m
* July 18 A$25,630 Mr Feelgood 2138m and
* July 25 A$25,630 Lucky Creed 2680m
And with interstate travel into Queensland only allowed for selected feature age group races, The Hustler won’t have to face some of the powerhouses from New South Wales and Victoria.
Hectorjayjay strolls past Governor Jujon in a fast trial at Albion Park on Tuesday.“But he’ll still have to earn it,” says Barnes. “Hectorjayjay’s up here now and trialled well on Tuesday, home in 55.4 and 26.8.”
Hectorjayjay, who was driven by Barnes’ son Brendan, was untroubled to stroll past Governor Jujon in the run home to record a 1:54.9 mile rate for the 1660 metres.
The winner of 43 races has competed only once since his breathtaking last-to-first win in the Group I Blacks A Fake at Albion Park at the 2017 winter carnival.
The superstar injured a suspensory ligament after that and it took nearly 12 months to get him back to racing, which he did in June, 2018, winning the Popular Alm Sprint at Kilmore.
But another suspensory issue sidelined him again and now the rising 10-year-old is in the care of Jack Butler at Logan Village.
“He’s a supreme athlete and what with him and Colt Thirty One it’s not going to be easy for Hustler.”
More news in Harness
Lincoln Wave scorches in, still on target for richer races and Sammy’s making progress too
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
