Trainer Al Barnes with driver son Hayden after Northview Hustler’s terrific win in the Flashing Red last season. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Sorry mate, that wasn’t one of your best so the old man will show you what patience means
By Barry Lichter • 19 September 2019
Marburg trainer Al Barnes is a typical dad, proud of the achievements of his two sons, Hayden and Brendan, who have just been named finalists for the Queensland young achiever of the year award.
But it hasn’t stopped him from benching Hayden this week as the pilot of Northview Hustler, after a bad drive last week saw the horse finish down the track.
“I’m not sacking him, it’s just a chance for him to reset and think about what’s most important - to look after the horse first, with results second.
“I wasn’t happy with Hayden’s drive last week, I wanted him to show some patience and for the horse to be hitting the line, rather than be gutted.”
“Hayden’s driven some great races on Hustler but sometimes he pulls out without thinking. He pulled out 600 metres from home last week and was posted four wide from the 450.”
Barnes was particularly keen for Northview Hustler to be driven quietly after he missed a race the previous week with an infected foot.
But it turned into a gut-buster with winner Watch Pulp Fiction pacing a 1:51.4 mile rate, and the Hustler coming to the end of his run and beating only two home.
So this week Barnes will take the reins himself “to show the kids how to look after a horse.”
“I’m not the greatest driver in the world but I’m more patient than Hayden. I’ll go back and save him for one sprint over the last 300 metres.
“He’s about 90% to 95% fit and I want to give him some confidence by hitting the line hard.
“It’s hard to predict where he’ll finish driving like that but the field is a bit weaker than last time with Watch Pulp Fiction not in and the step-up to 2138 metres will definitely favour us.
“I’ll let him run on this week and then it will be full steam ahead next week.”
Barnes says he will have no hesitation in putting Hayden back on the Hustler - he knows the horse so well after driving him in nine of his 11 starts in Queensland last season.
Dad with son Brendan who racked up 109 wins last season.It was another bottler of a year for Hayden who finished up 10th top driver in the state with 85 wins and $587,067 in stakes.
“Hayden has won the young achiever award a couple of times - he spent a month with John Dunn in Christchurch once and got a trip to Canada the other time.
“Both the boys did very well last season - Brendan drove more than 100 winners and not many kids do that in a season.
Brendan’s finally tally was 109 wins and $767,737 in stakes, placing him seventh on the premiership.
“And Brendan’s off to a flyer this season, with seven wins already.”
Northview Hustler races at 10.08pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
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A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Nate having a last spin round on his wee mate Eric - and he’s in with a very good chance
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
