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Majordan downs Our Uncle Sam in the Len Smith Mile at Menangle nine days ago. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.

Yikes, Hustler’s got his hands full here as Sydney flyers invade Brisbane for the sprint

Lincoln Farms’ Northview Hustler passed the first hurdle and made the field for Saturday night’s A$100,000 Sunshine Sprint (1660m) at Albion Park in Brisbane.

But from three on the second row he’s going to need everything going for him in Queensland’s feature winter sprint with several in-form flyers making the trek north from New South Wales.

The barrier draw, done live at a special ceremony at 11.30am NZ time today, swung the way of the state’s top pacer Colt Thirty One who will start from two.

But it was cruel for the Hustler - with only two marbles left to draw he was looking at the perfect three or the second row 10.

The interstate raiders had mixed fortunes:

  • Majordan, recent winner of the Len Smith Mile at Menangle in 1:49.6, is two on the second line.
  • Len Smith runner-up Our Uncle Sam, who won the Group I Bohemia Crystal (2400m) at Menangle in March in a blistering 1:52.3 rate, is beautifully placed in three.
  • Ex Kiwi Letspendanitetogetha, recent winner of the Golden Mile in 1:51.9 has the job ahead of him from the outside of the second row, and
  • Golden Mile runner-up Cash N Flow, formerly with the All Stars, who won the J D Watts Memorial last month in 1:50.6, drew six.

It will be Northview Hustler’s 12th attempt to win at 1700 metres or less, placings the best he has managed.

Only 10 fillies paid up for the A$100,000 Queensland Oaks with the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained Our Princess Tiffany dominating her rivals and nicely drawn in four.

Lincoln’s Farms’ Lincoln’s Girl will get her chance from two on the gate.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
6.18pm

“He was checked and locked wheels into the first turn last week and he had a decent puncture wound in his leg from where they ran into him so you certainly couldn’t condemn him for galloping. He’s a really nice horse, who is going to win races quickly. He hasn’t missed any work, and should be right in it.”

Race 3: Lincoln Wave
6.43pm

“He’s drawn wide again (six) but he’s good enough to get the job done. It’s a bit more of a test for him but there are no cup horses in there and he’s a pretty nice horse. We’ve waited for both him and Sammy Lincoln because of their setbacks at two but it’s been worth it.”

Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
7.11pm

“He was very tough in winning after sitting parked last week. He’s awkwardly drawn again but he tries hard and, with a bit of luck and a good trip, he can get some of it.”

Race 6: Tyson
8.08pm

“Completely forget his run last week when he had no luck in the running. He’s a definite chance.”

Race 6: Spiritual Bliss
8.08pm

“She took no harm from the incident last Friday and has trained on well. I think she’ll go well. If you analyse her run, they went down the back in 27.8 and she did well to finish on for fourth after sitting parked.”

Race Images - Harness