Tough assignment first-up for the Hustler but Al’s looking for a top three finish
By Barry Lichter • 31 January 2020
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.
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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.”
