Bondi Shake runs on for third after pulling too hard at Redcliffe last start.
Redcliffe novelty tripped Bondi Shake but expect competitive effort back at headquarters
By Barry Lichter • 30 June 2021
Bondi Shake won’t find it easy from six on the gate at Albion Park on Friday night but trainer Al Barnes still expects him to run a competitive race.
Bondi Shake comes back from 2040 metres at Redcliffe at his last start to 1660 metres but, more importantly, he will be back in familiar territory.
Barnes says Bondi Shake simply struggled to cope with his first look at Redcliffe on June 24 and had run his race before he even stepped onto the track.
“The stables face the track there and he was a bit excited and nervous all night, which is unlike him. He’s normally very settled.”
The upshot was the horse pulled too hard in the running three deep on the markers and while in the clear and fourth at the 400 metre mark, found none of his usual sprint.
Bondi Shake still ran on for a solid third, only 8.7 metres from winner Get Ready To Rock, the winner mile rating 1:58.4, giving Barnes further evidence he is close to a winning run.
Hayden Barnes will be reunited with Bondi Shake on Friday night.“It’s not a great field on Friday and he’ll be very competitive. I’ve put Hayden back on him and from six he’ll probably have to go back and let him run on.”
Likely favourite the Peter Manning-trained Eva Mateo has the advantage of leaving from gate two. She claims a 1:54.9 mile rate at Bendigo last November and was big first-up in the state when third in the Redcliffe Oaks from a wide second row draw.
Man Of Action goes round in the race after Bondi Shake but Barnes admits he “was pretty plain” at Redcliffe at this last start.
Man Of Action started from three on the second row and raced three back on the outer, finding little when the pressure went on to beat only two home, 10.5 metres from winner Donny Jones.
“He ran a few OK races there for a while but seems happy to follow them round now.
“Still he’ll be better at Albion Park and I’ll have a talk to Hayden about how we drive him.
“We haven’t tried him in front for a while but he might have to work too hard to lead from four.
“It might be better to drive him back, try to get a good trip, and hope he’ll run on.”
More news in Harness
Hubby nearly in the dog box after Tyson delivers Debbie a Golden Gait knockout blow
Debbie lands Golden draw at last in her bid to give Sampson a haircut at the Park
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Wednesday at Cambridge
Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
1.10pm
“You can’t fault what she’s done up here and she’s trained on really well since Manawatu. She seems to have a good motor and can carry her speed a long way. It’s a bit of a step-up on Wednesday, and she’s drawn out a bit, but she should be right in the fray.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lover
1.45pm
“It’s a huge drop in class for him on what he’s been racing. The Purdon horse Crippa Max looks the one to beat on his trial but I’m picking we’ll finish in the first three at worst. He’s very honest and does nothing wrong.”
Race 6: Lincoln Downs
2.55pm
“She got skittled early last time when one galloped in front of her, and that didn’t help. It would be nice to see her get a good trip, with no incidents, and see what she can do. She’s no superstar but she tries hard.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
4.31pm
“It’s his first race for more than four months and I’m picking he’ll need the run. It was a toss-up whether we went to the trials, but he’d probably have had no opposition, so it made sense to drop him in here. He’s training well and seems in good shape but whatever he does, he’ll improve on.”
