Al working overtime to fix foot abscess that could rob Bondi Shake of a start - and win
By Barry Lichter • 4 March 2021
On paper, Bondi Shake will be a $1.50 shot and winning the eighth race at Albion Park on Friday night.
There’s just one snag.
On Wednesday trainer Al Barnes discovered the three-year-old has an abscess in his off front foot which he is now working round the clock to fix.
“It’s only mild and I should get it right but you can never tell with these things.
“When they’ve got abscesses it’s like they’ve got a broken leg but, as soon as they burst, they’re good as gold.
“We’ve got to get there first but, if he does, he should just be winning, even from the outside of the gate.”
The opposition Bondi Shake faces is vastly easier than the three-year-old field he contested last Saturday night when he ran a fine third.
Sent forward by driver Hayden Barnes, Bondi Shake was parked briefly before landing the one-one sit. And when Barnes took off three wide 400 metres from home Bondi Shake surged up to the leaders, maintaining a strong run to the line to be beaten only 11 metres by red hot pot Dance In The Sun in a 1:55.3 mile rate.
On Friday the best of his rivals look to be second line runner Hurrikane Hour, who has yet to win at Albion Park and has raced in weak company at Redcliffe in seven of his nine starts, and Onlysbest who has a four from eight record but has yet to go as fast as Bondi Shake and hasn’t raced for three months.
Bondi Shake has compiled a consistent record for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and their partners since arriving in Queensland, recording three wins, five seconds, one third and three fourths from 14 starts.
Bondi Shake races at 12.22am NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.03pm
“He’s had a decent spell and is looking in good nick and I think he should be competitive on Friday as he’s fairly forward. He’s not one who takes a lot to screw down so I’m picking he’ll come to it pretty quickly.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
6.03pm
“He’s training down well enough. The draw’s probably got him covered but he’ll go an honest race. He’s been outclassed a few times but he very rarely goes a bad race.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.54pm
“He had surgery to correct an epiglottal entrapment and will probably need the run. I wouldn’t say he’s on top of his game yet but he’s drawn well (one) and steps well so I’m picking he’ll get a nice trip. He’s up there in the grades now but hopefully he’s good enough to get a cheque.”
Race 9: Ultimate Cullect
8.54pm
“She locked on a rein at Cambridge and Andre couldn’t get her to go down into the passing lane. He said she was travelling well at the time. She’ll find this tough and needs a solid pace to be of any effect. A sit and sprint is no good for her.”
