Northview Hustler charges home but can’t catch Smooth Showgirl after an early dawdle at Albion Park.
Positive signs for Hustler but more X-rays in two weeks to confirm no fractures
By Barry Lichter • 19 March 2020
Watching Northview Hustler whistle up the passing lane to run the winner close at Albion Park last Saturday night you’d hardly have suspected there was anything wrong with him.
It was more like the Hustler of old as he all but caught hot favourite Smooth Showgirl, whose driver Adam Sanderson was later fined for running his early sectionals too slowly, turning the race into only a sprint home.
But trainer Al Barnes still wasn’t happy and after weeks of worrying about some filling in the horse’s near front fetlock, he decided to get him X-rayed yesterday.
And what vets found explained a lot about why he’s struggled with the horse this campaign - and put his mind to rest that there’s nothing dramatically wrong with him.
“The X-rays didn’t find any structural problems, which is a great result because I was expecting the worst, thinking it would be a bone chip.”
Al Barnes … “We’re not out of the woods yet.”What the investigation did reveal was a lot of blood around the joint, blood which could have been sitting there for eight to 10 weeks, with resulting pressure that has kept the horse from performing up to his best.
“I think the blood that’s been sitting there created the infection which burst out in his feet before that race in Sydney.
“It would certainly explain why we’ve struggled to get him fit this time in - he’s not normally a hard horse to get right but he just hasn’t been as sharp as usual.
“We don’t know what caused the haemorrhage, but it would have been trauma of some kind - he could have whacked it in a race or when working, who knows?”
Barnes likened it to dropping something heavy on your foot, where the blood vessels burst but no bones are broken.
“It’s not a joint problem, the fluid in the joint is healthy, but there’s a lot of blood surrounding it.”
While the filled fetlock would normally suggest a fracture of some kind, Barnes says Hustler didn’t trot up lame before the vets yesterday.
“I can’t see it being a fracture because he’s too sound. But you never know and we’re not out of the woods just yet.
“He has to have two weeks box rest and then we’ll go back for more X-rays when the swelling has come down and things will be more visible. It may yet be a hairline fracture.”
While the injury is in the same leg as the one which saw Hustler sidelined last year with a minor tendon tear, Barnes says the tendon is fine.
“All the signs are positive and the vet didn’t have to inject the leg yesterday.
“We’ll let it heal and see how it looks in two weeks.”
Saturday’s runners-up cheque of $2389 was Hustler’s first placing in five starts this campaign, but also his first crack at a distance longer than 1660 metres, over which he has never won.
His career stats stand at 60 starts for 13 wins, nine placings and $183,857 in stakes.
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No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
