50-to-one? You’ve got to be kidding! Bondi Shake can rattle the Aussie bookies today
By Barry Lichter • 25 May 2021
For a horse who looked a certainty beaten at his last start, trainer Al Barnes can hardly believe that most Australian bookies have Bondi Shake at 50-to-one today.
Lincoln Farms’ improver lines up in the fifth race at Albion Park, with a strong chance of leading from three on the gate.
And if you saw his last-start fourth at Albion Park, when he was badly held up from the 400 metres to the turn, you’d share Barnes’ confidence that he’s outstanding value at those odds.
Bondi Shake was having just his second run back from a spell on May 18 and Barnes thought he’d be well underdone.
So you can imagine how surprised he was when after being burned out of the gate, then trailing the leader, the three-year-old was busting for an out when Coppice started dying in his face more than 400 metres from home.
Bondi Shake powers home up the inside last start.Driver Hayden Barnes wasn’t able to extricate the horse until after turning for home and he powered home to be beaten only 3.2 metres in fourth.
“Hayden said he would have won had he not been dragged back. Coppice normally doesn’t stop like that and I was surprised he held us out at the start.
“I don’t know how much gate speed the one and two horses have got today but our horse is pretty quick out.
“Hayden has options from three but his modus operandi is to go forward and have a look for 100 metres. He’ll put his foot down and have a crack and hopefully lead.
“The horse has been brilliant through the week. I fast worked him myself and he felt great.
“I’m confident he’s ready to do something today. There’s nothing in there he can’t beat.”
Bondi Shake has opened on the New Zealand TAB at $51 to win and $8 to place.
Most Aussie betting agencies have Bondi Shake at $51
Bondi Shake races at 6.07pm NZ time at Albion Park today.
More news in Harness
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
