Just a walk in the Park for Hustler but bookies still screw down his odds for the big one
By Barry Lichter • 4 June 2019
Australian bookies reacted to Northview Hustler’s walk in the park at Albion Park today by elevating him to the third line of betting for next month’s A$200,660 Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship.
The Hustler is now at $4.50 and better fancied than Brisbane’s top pacer Colt Thirty One for the July 20 feature, which most of the horse’s New Zealand owners look like attending.
Trainer Al Barnes couldn’t remember lining up an easier winner than The Hustler today who strolled round the track to win unextended by nearly 10 metres in a pedestrian mile rate of 1:57.3, more than four seconds slower than his sizzling rate of last week.
Donned in his new green Lincoln Farms strip, driver Hayden Barnes asked Northview Hustler to run from the outside of the gate and he quickly crossed his rivals to lead inside the first 200 metres.
Form there he was able to crawl through the opening quarter of the last mile in 32.1.
Barnes upped the tempo a little to run 29.7 and 29.1 for the next two quarters before letting the little black run home in a dazzling 26.5.
And the Hustler did it all on his own, Barnes sitting quiet throughout the run home, with only one small slap of the left rein, prompting race caller Chris Barsby to declare: “That was like trackwork and I dare say he didn’t break a sweat.’’
Hustler’s overall time for the 2138 metres was 2:35.8, all of 5.5 seconds slower than his last run.
Driver Hayden Barnes hasn’t moved a muscle as Hustler strides clear in little more than a training run.
“We’ve had some pretty easy wins back in the day but Hayden said that was pretty cruisy,” said Barnes. “He just let him slide up the straight and didn’t need to do any more.
“It’s nice to run time but you don’t want to bust the horse and if you can get an easy win, that’s good.’’
Barnes noted no opposition was offered when Hustler burned off the gate and says it would be nice if he got the same respect in the upcoming feature races.
“His recovery was very quick and that will give him some extra fitness and confidence.’’
The win took the five-year-old’s earnings to A$21,422 from his three wins in Brisbane for a season tally of $36,375.
Northview Hustler paid $1.03 on the Australian tote and $1.10 in New Zealand, bookies here offering only $1.04 at the jump.
His next assignment is the Group III A$31,400 Redcliffe Cup (2613m) on June 22.
Hustler is in cruise mode, nearly 10 metres clear.
Trojan too good in 1:55.5
Meanwhile, stablemate Trojan Banner began his run towards the derbies with a slick 1660 metre trial win over older horses in 1:55.5.
Trojan Banner wins today’s trial in 1:55.5.Driver Hayden Barnes allowed the colt to drop out to the rear of the field before making a fast run three wide down the back straight to race in the breeze.
He claimed the leader before the home turn and finished strongly to score by 2.3 metres over 13-race winner Our Millwood Maizie.
“He won pretty comfortably but was hanging a little bit so we have some work to so,’’ says Al Barnes.
Trojan Banner is unbeaten in five starts in Brisbane.
More news in Harness
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
HRNZ boss Brad Steele resigns after less than two years; chairman praises his work
$101 monster upset! - Lincoln Wave makes the most of lucky break and fills plenty of pockets
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
