What a ripper! Watch this heart-racing home stretch burst wide out by Northview Hustler

Northview Hustler’s sizzling home stretch sprint at Albion Park on Saturday night raised his connections’ hopes for the upcoming Brisbane summer carnival.

The game seven-year-old turned in the best performance seen on the newly surfaced track when he came from last on the home turn, all but reeling in state champion Colt Thirty One with a withering late run for a close third.

His closing half and quarter were a full second faster than the winner’s and in making up 16 metres from the 800 he ran 54.79 and 26.37, easily the best in the race and on the night.

The run surprised even trainer Al Barnes who warned pre-race that the horse, resuming from a month’s break, would be driven quietly and go back from his wide draw.

Driver Hayden Barnes showed fine patience on the $21 outsider and did not move until turning for home, when he was forced four and five wide before unleashing his run.

Northview Hustler’s closing sectional times were super impressive.“You wouldn’t find better sectionals than those,” said Al Barnes.

“And I’m sure the softer track helped him run to his true ability.”

Times have been slower and horses have found it hard to make ground from the back since the track was recambered and topped but for an injury-plagued Hustler it’s been made to order.

“It helped him out of sight on Saturday - he didn’t jar up. But he still didn’t pull up the greatest. There’s still a bit of swelling in his fetlock.

“But I should be able to maintain him. I’ve got him on every joint supplement I can find. It’s costly but he’s shown he can still foot it with them and there’s some good racing coming up.”

Barnes is hoping the Hustler can now put together some good, consistent form in the six week run-up to the summer carnival.

The three races he is being aimed at are:

* The Group Three A$30,660 Be Good Johnny Sprint (1660m) on November 28

* The Group Two A$50,660 Queensland Cup (2138m) on December 5 and

* The Group One A$175,660 Blacks A Fake (2680m) on December 12.

“They’re not that far away. We’ll miss a week here and there but he should be right come the end of next month.”

Colt Thirty One, who sat in the death to win his 42nd race from 73 starts, clocked a mile rate of 1:54.4 for the 1660 metres, downing Justalittle Torque by 1.6 metres with half a head to Northview Hustler.

Northview Hustler, closest, flies late to run a close third to Colt Thirty One and Justalittle Torque.