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
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
