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
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Sugar Ray signals start of good year ahead with tough win; blinkers for Lincoln Wave
Winners and losers in dates for the new season - your month by month harness guide
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”
