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.
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Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Cheapies The Night Fox and Lincoln Maree keep the tally ticking over at Cambridge
Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
