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Driver Hayden Barnes, with Trojan Banner, tries out Lincoln Farms’ new colours which will be seen out for the first time on Tuesday.

It’s green for go! Hayden models the new silks which he’ll wear behind Hustler on Tuesday

Trainer Al Barnes is stoked that Northview Hustler will be the first horse to carry the new silks he’s designed for his Lincoln Farms team at Albion Park on Tuesday.

What better occasion to unveil the new green strip with white Lincoln Farms’ logo than behind the horse he hopes can make a big impact at the looming Brisbane winter carnival.

It’s hard to make a case for anything to beat the Hustler in the opening race on the card, a c5 to c8 race over 2138 metres.

With a metropolitan grading of M4, he meets a small field of six M0s and, despite starting from the outside of the gate, he will be a raging hot favourite to maintain his unbeaten record in Brisbane.

Hayden Barnes is sitting quietly as Northview Hustler clocks a brilliant 1:53.1 mile rate last Tuesday.Hayden Barnes is sitting quietly as Northview Hustler clocks a brilliant 1:53.1 mile rate last Tuesday.Barnes reports the Hustler has bounced out of his incredible winning run last Tuesday when he careered away by 16 metres to clock a rare mile rate of 1:53.1 for the 2138 metres.

“He’s super, bright as a button,” says Barnes.

“This is not a hard race for him. Hayden will punch out and if they show him some respect he’ll lead. If not, he’ll sit quietly in the chair and I don’t think that would worry him too much.’’

Hustler’s task was made all the easier today with the scratching of the free-running Pinup Boy who was drawn to contest the early lead.

And Barnes can’t see New South Wales pacer Vettel troubling Hustler in his first run in the state.

“He could be a pest and lead. He’s not a danger of beating us but he might get in the way.’’

Vettel has a fastest mile time of 1:51.5 and scored all the way at Menangle three starts ago in 1:53.

Hustler’s 1:53.1 is easily the fastest mile rate for Tuesday’s distance range, the next best being Vettel’s 1:55.8.

Tuesday’s race will be the last for Northview Hustler until June 22 when he contests the A$31,400 Redcliffe Cup but Barnes is likely to trial the horse there next week to make sure he can handle the tight triangular shaped circuit.

Also headed to the trials, at Albion Park on Tuesday, is Trojan Banner who is unbeaten in five Queensland starts for Lincoln Farms.

Barnes gave Trojan Banner a freshener after his last win on April 23 so as to time his run at the A$100,000 Queensland Derby on July 20.

“He’s come up good as gold but he’ll need the run tomorrow.

‘He’s still not steering that great - he’s a bit tight in the muscles in his neck and across his rump - but he’ll have acupuncture in the next few days.’’

Northview Hustler races at 3.56pm NZ time on Tuesday.Northview Hustler races at 3.56pm NZ time on Tuesday.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Wednesday night at Cambridge

Race 1: Lincoln Maree
5.11pm

“She’s finding her feet and was a bit unlucky at Taupo. She put in a few rough ones out of the gate - she was like that early in her prep and could just jump out of it - but she’s generally doing things right now. She trained well on Saturday and, with the right run, could run top three.”

Race 3: The Night Fox
6pm

“He won really well on the second day at Hawera and if he races anything like he’s training he’ll be hard to beat. He ran a 27.3 quarter during the week and I was just sitting on him. I’ll tell Craig to go forward, set an even tempo and cut him loose at the 600. I think he’s our best of the night.”

Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.35pm

“Hopefully he’s improved since Taupo when Fergie drove him a treat in front. I actually think he’s better coming off something’s back but I’ll leave it up to Fergie. He’s up a bit in grade but has the right draw to be in it all the way.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.32pm

“He had an easy run last week and he can go a lot faster than that. He should be hard to beat. It won’t matter if he doesn’t find the lead from six, he’ll be just as effective coming from off the pace. He’s a pretty classy horse, classier than most of those against him.”

Whales Harness