Al working overtime to fix foot abscess that could rob Bondi Shake of a start - and win
By Barry Lichter • 4 March 2021
On paper, Bondi Shake will be a $1.50 shot and winning the eighth race at Albion Park on Friday night.
There’s just one snag.
On Wednesday trainer Al Barnes discovered the three-year-old has an abscess in his off front foot which he is now working round the clock to fix.
“It’s only mild and I should get it right but you can never tell with these things.
“When they’ve got abscesses it’s like they’ve got a broken leg but, as soon as they burst, they’re good as gold.
“We’ve got to get there first but, if he does, he should just be winning, even from the outside of the gate.”
The opposition Bondi Shake faces is vastly easier than the three-year-old field he contested last Saturday night when he ran a fine third.
Sent forward by driver Hayden Barnes, Bondi Shake was parked briefly before landing the one-one sit. And when Barnes took off three wide 400 metres from home Bondi Shake surged up to the leaders, maintaining a strong run to the line to be beaten only 11 metres by red hot pot Dance In The Sun in a 1:55.3 mile rate.
On Friday the best of his rivals look to be second line runner Hurrikane Hour, who has yet to win at Albion Park and has raced in weak company at Redcliffe in seven of his nine starts, and Onlysbest who has a four from eight record but has yet to go as fast as Bondi Shake and hasn’t raced for three months.
Bondi Shake has compiled a consistent record for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and their partners since arriving in Queensland, recording three wins, five seconds, one third and three fourths from 14 starts.
Bondi Shake races at 12.22am NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Cambridge
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
5.55pm
“The race never panned out for him on debut, he got too far back from a second row draw, but we’ve got the gun draw and gun driver (Zachary Butcher) on this time. He can run off the gate a bit so I don’t see why he can’t lead. I’d like to think he’s a chance to get some money. He’s been trialling and working well.”
Ray’s tips
Thursday night at Auckland
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.41pm
“He missed four or five days work with an abscess in his foot when he came back from Manawatu so he could be a bit short.”
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.41pm
“She doesn’t handle the bends so well the Auckland way and is just going round to lose points. She’s been crucified by the handicapping system.”
Race 2: What’s Up The Hill
6.06pm
“He’s not the finished article yet but he’s slowly getting the hang of it. There are nicer horses in the race than the ones he raced against at Manawatu so I’Il be happy if he can just do everything right and run a slot.”
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.31pm
“She won from a wide draw last time at Manawatu but this is a slightly harder field. She keeps drawing badly and the outside gate might inconvenience her again.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.22pm
“He got pushed out down the back last time because he couldn’t keep up. We had big aspirations for him but it looks like he isn’t as good as we thought. Nothing can beat Marketplace.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
7.54pm
“I’m sure she’s up to them when she’s right but she’s had her setbacks recently. First she tied up and then she kicked out at something and bruised a foot. She’s right now but that will render her not 100% fit.”
Race 9: Lincoln La Moose
9.36pm
“He went good races at Palmy but he pulled far too hard here last time. It was a better run than it looks on paper though as he couldn’t get a run at them in the straight. He’s probably on his mark now and will need a bit of luck.”
