Al tips top three finish from Bondi Shake - he just wants them to go a bit faster this time
By Barry Lichter • 11 January 2021
Trainer Al Barnes is confident of a top three finish from Bondi Shake despite his drawing the second line at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Bondi Shake starts from two on the second row in the third race but Barnes is hoping he gets a good run through because he follows out a good gate horse in Kotare Elite.
“There’s a bit of speed out wide with the favourite coming from six but he should settle close to the firing line.
“He’s one of the better ones in the race and I’d be disappointed if he didn’t finish in the top three.”
Likely favourite Scotch En Ice, trained by 79-year-old veteran Vic Frost, has been out of the money only twice in his eight starts but Bondi Shake is also building a very consistent record.
Bondi Shake … two wins and three seconds from six starts in Brisbane. PHOTO: Dan Costello.In six Queensland starts he has racked up two wins, three seconds and a fourth, and is improving all the time, says Barnes.
“I’m really happy with him. He’s proving to be a nice horse, better than I thought when he first arrived. He’s developing more strength.”
Barnes is hoping the tempo of the race on Tuesday is more solid than last time given the three-year-old is coming back from 2138 metres to 1660 metres.
Leader and favourite Moresco was gifted the race last week when he strolled along with quarters of 30.3, 30.2 and 29.7, leaving the race only a sprint home. While Bondi Shake closed well late from the trail, he missed by half a neck.
“When they sprinted at the top of the lane he was a bit green and gangly. Hayden said for the first 50 metres of the straight his legs were going everywhere and he didn’t really put it together until closer to the line.
“If they’d got rolling a bit earlier it would have suited him better. The 27.6 last quarter was just a bit too sharp for him.”
Bondi Shake races at Albion Park at 5.33pm NZ time 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.”
