Hustler’s the class horse but he’ll still need to show some heart on Tuesday, says Al
By Barry Lichter • 27 May 2019
On ratings, Northview Hustler should simply have the wood on his rivals at Albion Park on Tuesday.
But trainer Al Barnes says drawn four on the second row, last week’s Flashing Red winner will still have to show some heart to win the final race at 8.17pm NZ time.
Hustler gets into the mobile 2138 metre race for c6 and c7 horses with a c7 rating but he carries a metropolitan mark of M4 compared with the M0 status of the rest of the field.
But while he will start favourite, Barnes says with talented filly Fame Assured (14 wins from 25 starts) in the field, he’s unlikely to be a raging hot pot.
“He’s the class horse of the field, no doubt, but our plan will be to try to stay in front of Fame Assured. We’ve got the best horse and will drive him accordingly and be aggressive.
“We’ll try to get round them pretty quickly. Hopefully if the race pans out as I hope it will, he’ll get a good run through at the start and be in front or in the chair.’’
Northview Hustler with driver Hayden Barnes and trainer Al Barnes after his fresh-up win nine days ago. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Barnes suspects the in-form Pinup Boy will get out fast from six, attack for the lead, and park Hustler. But Pinup Boy is likely to be running on empty at the finish of 2138 metres, he says.
“We’ll have to be tough this week and do a bit of work but even though it’s like a maiden voyage for us I’m still confident he’ll do well.
“The reports I’m getting are he’s as good in the chair as he is in front. He doesn’t have to be silly and run Vasari times, he just needs to be a tradesman, sit patient, and get the job done.’’ (Vasari clocked a supersonic 1:52 mile rate when winning last Friday night).
Barnes reports Hustler is very happy and seems a little better in his gait after some work on his stifles. Barnes noticed Hustler was quite hoppy in his action behind when winning the Flashing Red when he paced the 2647 metres from a stand in a mile rate of 1:57.3, just three tenths of a second outside the track record.
Natural improvement should see Hustler even sharper on Tuesday as that was his first race for five months.
Hustler’s first target remains the A$31,400 Redcliffe Cup (2613m) on June 22, with his ultimate goal the $A200,000 The Blacks A Fake Championship (2680m) on July 20.
Sportsbet has Hustler a $5 fifth favourite for that winter Group I feature behind Tiger Tara ($3.50), with Colt Thirty One, Our Uncle Sam and Poster Boy all on $4.
Northview Hustler races at 8.17pm NZ time on Tuesday.
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Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
