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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John Higgins might have found a hidden gem in the shape of $5000 online buy Highland Hustle who will go in search of back-to-back wins at Ballina on Sunday.

The Coffs Harbour trainer was formerly based at Hawkesbury, he likes to keep just a small team and when he made the move north he went looking for a tried horse and landed on the ex-David Payne prepared four-year-old.

To say she’s been a handy purchase already would be an understatement as she’s collected about $20,000 in three starts for Higgins and he’s adamant the best is yet to come.

“I saw the horse online and she had some pretty good Kembla Grange form and it was just ideal for up here,’’ Higgins said.

“She hasn’t stopped eating since she’s been here, she’s a happy horse and loving it. She goes for a swim a couple of days a week.

“She gets up on the pace, which is good, and I think she will keep progressing.”

Highland Hustle had eight starts for her former trainer for one placing, but she wasted little time hitting form with a second-up placing at Port Macquarie on September 1.

Highland Hustle wins at Coffs Harbour on September 14

Thirteen days later she scored a runaway win on her home track, breaking her maiden status with an almost five length margin.

Higgins sees no reason why she couldn’t back that up rising in grade in the TAB Handicap (1590m) where she’ll jump from the outside barrier.

“She was racing against stronger opposition when she was down at Kembla,’’ he said.

“I did have her in at Grafton and she drew 16 so we’ve only got 10. I don’t think it will worry her because she has to be on speed and can get across pretty quick.

“We’ll stay at a mile then work it out after that, she’ll probably get a bit further but I’ll wait and see how we go on Sunday.”

Meanwhile, Higgins is enthusiastic about the future of a lightly raced four-year-old called Pride Of Glasgow who is close to returning from injury.

He’s only raced six times and was closing in on a win when he sustained a tendon injury and had to be rested, fortunately it wasn’t a serious one and he’s not far off getting back on track.

“I think he’s a promising horse,’’ he said.

“He’ll be racing in about six weeks, he had a couple of starts and ran second and third then he hurt his tendon.

“It was a small tear and he went out for three and a half months and he’s not far away.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Ballina meeting