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.
More news in Harness
Tyson KOs rivals but Ray floored by stewards’ post-race song and dance over assistant’s help
Dr Green goes to work on mentally fragile Tyson hoping to pen better script for Friday
Ray tells why he rates Lincoln Lou clearly best of Lincoln Farms’ quartet in the fourth race
It’s all up to Angus - Brisbane’s young gun needs to drive a pearler on Nemo at Redcliffe
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Mark Dux’s comments
Wednesday night at Redcliffe
Race 1: Captain Nemo
7.17pm NZ time
“It’s a reasonable field, they’re not push-overs, but they’re all beatable. It will all come down to who gets the right trip. If we have something go our way we could get some of it as there’s not a lot between them and I don’t think he’s far off now. We’ve got a bad draw again and there’s a bit of speed inside us so I’ll tell Angus to just play it by ear.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln La Moose
7.32pm
“He’s a pretty good horse. He was still below his best last time at Cambridge - he needed the race - but went very well for second behind King’s Watch. With his ace draw, he should be right up there for Zac (Butcher). He always looked a bit delicate but he’s got tougher.”
Race 4: Obadiah Dragon
7.32pm
“He’ll go a good race but our others look better here. His last run was below par for him so we took a blood off him and he had a bit of a virus going on. He was at the tail end of it but it was enough to stop him.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.32pm
“Even if he’s half a run short, I don’t think it will matter, he’ll still be too good for this lot. He only had a mild virus which came right with treatment and he’s trained on well since. He feels pretty good and if I was betting man, I’d bet him for sure based on his last run, which was massive.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.32pm
“He’s in a ‘coming of age’ phase. He rushed up beside them last start and wanted to lay all over them and give them a hug. But that’s normal coltish behaviour. He does that in training as well, rushes up and switches off. He has a lot of ability but also a few little behaviour traits that we need to get on top of.”
Race 6: My Copy
8.24pm
“It won’t be easy from four on the second row but he’s very honest and, if opportunity knocks, he’ll be right there. If he gets a trip, he’s always ready to pounce.”
Race 9: Tyson
9.39pm
“He should be one of the favourites. The raw ability is there and he’ll definitely win races as he has a bit of speed. How far he will take us we have yet to find out but I thought he did really well last time given the run he had.”
