Tough assignment first-up for the Hustler but Al’s looking for a top three finish

Northview Hustler has struck a tough race to resume in at Albion Park on Saturday night but trainer Al Barnes is confident the horse can still run top three.

After weeks of seeing the free-for-alls down on class, Barnes says it’s uncanny that, as soon as the Hustler is ready, “bang” in pops Queensland star Cost Thirty One and fellow good performer Watch Pulp Fiction.

One thing going for the Hustler is that he’s drawn three on the front line, one spot inside Colt Thirty One.

Barnes says ideally if Grant Dixon runs the gate hard then Hustler would too, land the death seat and park the Colt three wide.

“But being first-up we probably won’t do that. Even though he trialled in 1:52 he pulled up very big and is nowhere near 100% race fit.

“And this is not the telling part of the season. None of us will want to kill our horses. It’s not about Saturday night, this is just the first step in his campaign, so we’ll do the right thing by Hustler this week.”

Northview Hustler wins his trial 10 days ago by 40 metres in 1:52.4.Barnes says he’s not sure what his son Hayden will do with the Hustler early in his first race since injuring a tendon last September. Pole runner Zahven Banner likes to lead and the horse drawn two, Clintal Do, has enough gate speed to be a pest.

“I don’t think we could cross the one horse if he wants to lead but taking a trail on our back would be a smart tactic. Who knows, he might let us go?

“Having Adam Sanderson driving that horse is an asset. I think it changes the race a bit. He’s a quality driver and he’ll rate the horse well rather than just go out there to run a fast time.

“We should get our chance to get a good spot.”

Barnes says while he knows none of Hustler’s wins have been over a mile, he believes that’s just an anomaly.

“Any horse with his speed is capable of winning at any distance. And the miles he’s run have been in good feature company when he hasn’t had a lot of luck.”

Last July Hustler ran an unlucky fourth in Ohoka Punter’s Group I Sunshine Sprint, snookered in the one-one turning in and unable to find a gap in the run home. Between him and the winner were runner-up Colt Thirty One and Watch Pulp Fiction.

Colt Thirty One, who claims a best winning mile at Albion Park of 1:51.3, has had one race since returning from a fruitless Interdominion campaign at Auckland, impressively winning the Queensland Cup (2138m) on December 21, improving three wide to the death a lap out.

Watch Pulp Fiction, a well beaten ninth in that race, finished third as favourite 10 days ago behind Rock With Sam and Mach Alert.

“Hustler’s ready to go - he came out of the trial super - but whatever he does on Saturday he’ll improve on.”

Northview Hustler races at 10.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.