Tough assignment for Bondi Shake on Tuesday and Larry’s going to need luck too
By Barry Lichter • 18 January 2021
If you pegged Bondi Shake as a next-up winner after his unlucky run at Albion Park last week, trainer Al Barnes warns he has tough opposition on Tuesday evening and will be doing well to even run a place.
Bondi Shake did well to be beaten only a head by Kotare Elite on January 12 after being nearly skittled early in the home straight in a concertina melee that saw winning driver John Stariha suspended for 21 days.
Bondi Shake was four wide and running right into the race when driver Hayden Barnes saw the two horses inside him hook up and he swerved out to avoid the trouble, resulting in the horse losing valuable momentum.
A protest by the connections of the fifth-placed Sunny Rice, who was badly checked, failed because it couldn’t be proved that she would have beaten the winner without the interference.
Bondi Shake, arrowed, swerves sideways as the two horses inside him cop interference from the leader and hook up.And Al Barnes says it was pointless protesting himself.
“Bondi Shake would have to have been knocked down to win a protest. Hayden actually had enough room to miss it but he over-reacted to the situation and checked off them - which I don’t blame him for doing.
“Hayden said the two who hooked up actually did him a favour as he wasn’t going to get past the horse inside him before it. We got a spurt on and kicked on strongly but we were never going to beat the winner.”
Barnes says Tuesday evening’s race looks to be the toughest Bondi Shake has faced since arriving in Brisbane, with the likely favourite Boomchuckalucka drawn wide.
“He looks like a really nice horse and will run a 54 - 55 half. We ran second to him in his first-up run here but didn’t make up any ground. And even though we’re a bit more seasoned now and have improved a lot, it will still be hard for him.
“It’s a very good race, the hardest he’s tackled, and if he can run a place he’ll be doing well. I’m really interested to see how he goes because he’s improving all the time and hopefully he can step up again.”
Barnes says you have to forgive Larry Lincoln for running last at his latest start but from gate six he, too, will need a lot of luck to feature in the seventh race.
Larry Lincoln blotted his form line badly on January 5 when he sat in the one-one then pulled out three wide at the 400 and went nowhere, finishing last of eight.
“Larry got away on us a bit over Christmas,” Barnes said.
“We had a few very hot days and were a bit casual with him - we thought he might need a break - and he put on a few kilos.
“We’ve worked him a bit stronger since and he’ll turn the corner. He’s up them but from the draw he’ll get back.
“We’ll drive him for luck. If the pace is on, he’ll run on. If they walk and sprint, it will make it tough.”
More news in Harness
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Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Shunt and tangled tail hamper our Johnny - why he can win Friday’s Lincoln Farms Pace
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“She didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
