Bondi Shake has been way too good for his Redcliffe rivals in his last two starts. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Full of confidence, Bondi Shake spearheads Al’s leaders at Redcliffe this week
By Barry Lichter • 10 August 2021
With all three of his runners drawn to lead, Marburg trainer Al Barnes is hoping he can keep his good strike rate going for Lincoln Farms at Redcliffe this week.
Barnes scored wins with Bondi Shake and Franco Nandor last week, supplemented by a placing with Brian Christopher, and lines up all three horses again.
First cab off the rank on Wednesday night is Bondi Shake whose form has completely turned around now that he’s put his soreness issues behind him.
Bondi Shake made it back-to-back wins last week when he led all the way from gate four, winning as he liked by 7.5 metres in a 1:58.4 mile rate.
“From two this time he should be leading and winning,” says Barnes. “It’s no harder this week and he looks a good bet.
“He’s done really well through the week and his confidence is up now he’s got over his soreness.”
On Thursday Franco Nandor is also set to make the pace from three on the gate in the seventh race.
The Mach Three gelding led from four last week and, after being looked in the eye early in the run home, did well to prevail by a nose.
“He should lead and run first or second. It’ll just be a case of whether he hangs on again or not.”
Barnes says his preference would be to drive the horse to lead then take a sit.
“But that’s more an Albion Park tactic. It’s hard to find the right one to let go at Redcliffe.
“We’ll lead and do our best.”
Lacking any real speed, Brian Christopher needs to be up on the pace in the eighth race and that’s exactly where Barnes says he’ll be.
“He can’t come from off the pace, he’s better in front or outside the leader which is where he raced last week.
“That suits him as he’s tough and he tries hard.”
Barnes says Brian Christopher, from three, will have a crack for the top and he hopes he’ll have enough respect to get there.
“The McCarthy horse (The General) should take a sit on him as they know they’ll get a good trip. But we should run top three again.”
Man Of Action striding out at Pukekohe for Zachary Butcher.Meanwhile Barnes said goodbye to Man Of Action last weekend, the horse sold to Marburg track stalwarts Doug and Karen Manger.
The four-year-old, who has been on a losing streak of 29 races since winning his third start in Queensland, never achieved the heights of his speedy half brother Make Way.
He goes with a career record of three wins and 12 placings from 51 starts for earnings of $47,154, just the credentials to qualify him to be pampered by the Mangers who say they train “race pets”, not race horses.
Bondi Shake races at 7.55pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.
Franco Nandor races at 6.12pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.
Brian Christopher races at 6.47pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.
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Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
