Second row draw makes it tough again for Bondi Shake at Albion Park on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 14 June 2021
Bondi Shake will be driven for luck at Albion Park on Tuesday after again drawing badly on the second row.
The improving three-year-old, who has been dead stiff at long odds in a couple of his recent runs, came from three back on the markers to run fourth in his latest start last Tuesday to finish only 7.8 metres from the winner and hot favourite Call Me Keith.
And trainer-driver Al Barnes says the horse finished as well as anything in the race, clocking closing sectionals of 56.4 and 27.6.
“That topped him off fitness wise. But I’ll have to drive defensively again from three on the second row. I’ll come up the fence and look for gaps.”
Barnes says Bondi Shake is a much improved version since recovering from a foot abscess but, while he always tried hard, he is now up against stronger opposition too.
“It’s very strong here at the moment with a lot of southern horses. There’d have to be 80 to 100 of them here and that will only increase over the winter carnival.
“He’s in between in the ratings at the moment, with so many in that grade. But when he drops one more point he’ll be on the lower side (and benefit from the preferential barrier draw).”
Meanwhile Lincoln Farms newbie Brian Christopher is set to debut in Brisbane next week, on either the Tuesday or Thursday.
“It’s all Redcliffe this week and I didn’t want to take him there. I also had the chiropracter go over him to fix a few problems in his back end and that takes five to seven days to heal.”
Bondi Shake races at 5.47pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
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.”
