Bondi Shake rattles home and rolls Redcliffe field for deserved and overdue win
By Barry Lichter • 28 July 2021
Bondi Shake broke a five month drought when he powered home from well back in the field to score at Redcliffe tonight.
Confidently tipped pre-race by trainer Al Barnes, because he was against a mediocre field, Bondi Shake was backed in from $5.50 to $3 but looked to have the job ahead of him when driver Hayden Barnes was forced to go back to the rear from a wide draw.
The three-year-old, narrowly beaten at his last start, was still back, three wide with cover, coming to the home turn when Barnes switched out four wide, giving the leaders a big start.
But Bondi Shake ran right up to Al Barnes’ rap, mounting a big sprint and reeling in his rivals to beat the favourite Rainbow Jet by 1.5 metres, going away.
While the horse had 14 misses beside his name since his last win in February, Barnes said the horse had endured a shocking run of bad luck since returning from a spell.
“He’s been racing well for some time now with no luck and he was just too good for that field tonight.”
The win, Bondi Shake’s fourth in 38 starts, was cut out in a 2:00 mile rate, with closing sectionals of 58.6 and 29.8.
A son of the ill-fated Somebeachsomewhere, he is raced by a big team comprising Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street, Auckland Trotting Club steward Pat Gubb, Bob Best, Merle Gradwell, Lance Myocevich, Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, the Joeraeme Syndicate, Margaret Rabbitt and the Athenry Syndicate.
His form earlier in the year was shipwrecked by a nasty foot abscess but Barnes hopes he will now start to build a consistent record.
Bondi Shake, second from left, comes four wide round the turn before unleashing a big sprint.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Spirit Of God
5.48pm
“She’s got a bit of lick but I’ll leave it up to the driver (Matthew White) to decide whether to leave the gate. Barry Purdon’s horse Dino looks the one to beat.”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
7.12pm
“Her race last time was a non-event, the silliest race I’ve seen for a long time, with a middle half in 66.6. It shouldn’t be legal. In the US they’d fine you for going that slow. She tries hard but looks up against it here.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.12pm
“She was out for a long time but has had three runs back now and should be close to being ready to rock. The wide draw makes it tough in a big field.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.20pm
“It’s always difficult for any horse off a draw like this, let alone one like him, as we know he doesn’t race as well from off the pace. We just have to hope his big demolition job woke him up a lot. His form eclipses anything else in the race but whether or not he’ll bring his best is anyone’s guess.”
