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
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
