Hustler’s friends gather for his farewell spin at Pukekohe - and he didn’t disappoint

It was almost as if Hustler knew something was up.

Perhaps it was the sight of long time stable worker Phil Satler being there, leaning on his broom, and reminiscing about the habits of one of Lincoln Farms’ favourite horses.

Or maybe it was the unfamiliar presence of sweepers Leigh Argue and Crystal Delaney lining the fence to watch his final workout at Pukekohe. Part owner Shannon Flay was there too, even more generous than usual with her pats.

Whatever it was that sparked up Northview Hustler in his last run before moving to Queensland proved effective, as the little black pinged straight to the front for stable junior Andrew Drake, showing a stack more verve than in his two previous workouts this prep.

Setting up a commanding lead, Hustler kept running and, showing no signs of flinching, he romped to the line to easily beat the well performed Triple Eight, Double Rocket and No Doctor Needed.

Clocking a good time of 3:12.1 for the 2500 metres, Hustler ripped home in a slick 57.1 and 26.3, as if to remind his friends that he could still get the job done.

Hustler stops to look out over Lincoln Farms which he will farewell next week.And afterwards, as trainer Ray Green helped ungear the little soldier for the last time, for the next few months anyway, he showed his soft side:

“He’s a dear little man. If you had to choose a horse to go out on, he’d be it. He’s just so professional and reliable - he just goes in and gets the wages.’’

Satler, who lives at Lincoln Farms and knows the animals in the barn as well as his cats, has seen a lot of Hustler in the last few months, his job of feeding the team allowing him to get closer than most.

And there have been many a night in the last few months when he’s had to encourage Hustler to eat, after he got so thin Green was forced to geld him.

“He’s a fussy easter,’’ says Satler. “He picks out all the fibre nuts we put in his feed and throws them on the floor.

“But he’s a lovely horse and was very cuddly this morning.

“There are a few troublemakers in the barn but he’s never put a foot wrong since he’s been here.’’

Green would love to keep Hustler at his Pukekohe stable, especially after all the hours that he’s put into the horse during his comeback. Only a couple of weeks ago he predicted this would be the horse’s best year.

“I’ll be sorry to see him go but you’ve got to do what’s right for him and his future here is pretty bleak.’’

Green turns dark when he seizes on the reason for Hustler having to go to Australia - a flawed handicapping system which sees horses elevated so quickly in the ratings they quickly become uncompetitive and are sold overseas.

“They’ll eventually come to terms with it, but by then it will be too late.’’