50-to-one? You’ve got to be kidding! Bondi Shake can rattle the Aussie bookies today
By Barry Lichter • 25 May 2021
For a horse who looked a certainty beaten at his last start, trainer Al Barnes can hardly believe that most Australian bookies have Bondi Shake at 50-to-one today.
Lincoln Farms’ improver lines up in the fifth race at Albion Park, with a strong chance of leading from three on the gate.
And if you saw his last-start fourth at Albion Park, when he was badly held up from the 400 metres to the turn, you’d share Barnes’ confidence that he’s outstanding value at those odds.
Bondi Shake was having just his second run back from a spell on May 18 and Barnes thought he’d be well underdone.
So you can imagine how surprised he was when after being burned out of the gate, then trailing the leader, the three-year-old was busting for an out when Coppice started dying in his face more than 400 metres from home.
Bondi Shake powers home up the inside last start.Driver Hayden Barnes wasn’t able to extricate the horse until after turning for home and he powered home to be beaten only 3.2 metres in fourth.
“Hayden said he would have won had he not been dragged back. Coppice normally doesn’t stop like that and I was surprised he held us out at the start.
“I don’t know how much gate speed the one and two horses have got today but our horse is pretty quick out.
“Hayden has options from three but his modus operandi is to go forward and have a look for 100 metres. He’ll put his foot down and have a crack and hopefully lead.
“The horse has been brilliant through the week. I fast worked him myself and he felt great.
“I’m confident he’s ready to do something today. There’s nothing in there he can’t beat.”
Bondi Shake has opened on the New Zealand TAB at $51 to win and $8 to place.
Most Aussie betting agencies have Bondi Shake at $51
Bondi Shake races at 6.07pm NZ time at Albion Park today.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”
