Al looking for good showing from Bondi Shake in Queensland opener on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 16 November 2020
Newcomer to Queensland Bondi Shake will be improved for his trial last week and, while a work in progress, can still run in the top three at Albion Park on Tuesday night.
Trainer Al Barnes says he will learn more about the horse from how he copes in his Brisbane debut but Lincoln Farms’ latest import has already shown enough ability to be competitive.
Bondi Shake was quite fresh when third in his 1660 metre trial last Tuesday, late joining the score-up for Hayden Barnes and settling in the rear.
The gelding found a distant one-one possie at the bell and made up nice ground late on the leaders who ripped home in 55.8 and 28.1 to record a 1:56.4 mile rate.
“He wasn’t pacing the greatest and Hayden held him back a little because he wanted to chase. He just kept him balanced to get his confidence up.
“The horse has enough ability but he’s not the greatest gaited, like a lot of the Somebeachsomewheres.
“But he’ll keep improving and, while there are a couple of handy ones in against him, he can run top three from the draw.”
Bondi Shake, who last raced three weeks ago at Cambridge, is raced by Lincoln Farms and a big team of partners including Bob Best, Merle Gradwell, Pat Gubb, Lance Myocevich, Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, Margaret Rabbitt, the Joeraeme Syndicate and Athenry Syndicate.
He ran two placings from 11 starts in New Zealand, throwing away a win at Cambridge two starts back when breaking as he was about to hit the lead close to home.
Barnes is hoping he can reward his owners in the next couple of months as he is still classed as a two-year-old in Australia until the end of the year and gets in on a very low rating of 31.
Man Of Action will be hard to beat from the front. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Man Of Action and Larry Lincoln clash in the seventh race on Tuesday night, drawn nicely in gates two and four.
And while Larry Lincoln notched a hat-trick of wins last week with a dazzling show of speed, Barnes says if he had to single one out he’d plump for Man Of Action who has been in the money in five of his seven starts in Brisbane.
“Man Of Action will lead and he’ll be hard to catch. He’s tough and is always in for a fight.
“It will depend on the tempo but if he can run 1:53 or 1:54 in front, and make it a staying test, it will take a good one to beat him.
“The one thing he can’t beat is one zipping home late down the outside and Larry could be that one.
“He can sit on any pace and, if he can be saved for one run, he’s lethal. But it will depend on what kind of trip he gets.”
Barnes says the field looks quite even, with lots of form, but he could see his pair running one-two with the right trips.
Bondi Shake races at 4.37pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Man Of Action and Larry Lincoln race at 7.37pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
