Santa comes early for Al as he takes the Xmas Cup reins on the Hustler for some fun

Trainer Al Barnes has given himself an early Christmas present - the drive on Northview Hustler in Saturday night’s $21,270 Christmas Cup.

Barnes’ first thought after the Hustler draw six for the second week on end was to scratch the horse, given it’s almost impossible to win at Albion Park from so wide on the gate.

But, instead, he decided to don the colours himself and “have some fun.”

“You can’t earn if you’re sitting at home and even if he runs last he’ll pay the bills. Besides it’s not every day you get a horse like Hustler in your stable and can drive a good horse. And I want to do more of it.”

Barnes has been getting his hand in, driving his trotter here and there, in the knowledge that both his sons Hayden and Brendan will be leaving soon to work in the mines.

So he thought he’d get better acquainted with the Hustler, having his first racenight drive on the horse for his 37th start in Queensland.

But that doesn’t mean he’ll be throwing caution to the wind and blasting Hustler off the arm with Colt Thirty One drawn the pole and One Change gate four.

Northview Hustler is airborne out of the gate but if he’s used up early he won’t finish off the race.“There’s a little bit of speed inside him but if you run the gate to put him handy, he won’t finish it off. What’s the point of gutting him for no reason?

“We’ll go back and try to find a hole and hope for a bit of luck.”

Ironically, while this week’s 2680 metre race is much easier than last week’s Group I Blacks A Fake, Barnes says that might not help the Hustler.

“There are some ordinary horses in it and a lot will only get in the way. At least last week we had a chance of getting a cart up.”

In the end that didn’t eventuate and the Hustler was still second last on the home turn, forced to hook out three and four wide to make his run in the stretch, ending up ninth, 23.7 metres from the winner.

“I thought his run was brilliant. He was held up in the straight and it was only in the last 100 metres that he got through.”

The clock confirmed how well the Hustler went. The official closing sectionals from the 800 and 400 showed he ran 55.4 and 26.56. That was faster than runner-up Colt Thirty One (55.89 and 26.77) and only marginally sallower than hollow winner King Of Swing (55.3 and 26.2). And that was on a rain-affected track.

“The track was actually quite good considering we’d had a lot of rain. It held up really well.”

Barnes reports the Hustler came out of the summer carnival finale in great shape.

“He pulled up super. His joints are good and he’s licking the bowl.

“We’ll go round and do our best and hope for a better draw next week.”

It’s hard to argue against the fact the Hustler has been dealt poor hands in recent weeks.

He’s had only one good alley in his last six starts when he drew three and ran a terrific fourth in the Be Good Johnny Sprint. In his other five runs he’s had barrier six three times, five once and the inside of the second row.

“It will get back to the normal Saturday night free-for-alls soon, the numbers will drop, and he’ll start being competitive again.”

Northview Hustler races at 9.43pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.