Bondi Shake rattles home and rolls Redcliffe field for deserved and overdue win
By Barry Lichter • 28 July 2021
Bondi Shake broke a five month drought when he powered home from well back in the field to score at Redcliffe tonight.
Confidently tipped pre-race by trainer Al Barnes, because he was against a mediocre field, Bondi Shake was backed in from $5.50 to $3 but looked to have the job ahead of him when driver Hayden Barnes was forced to go back to the rear from a wide draw.
The three-year-old, narrowly beaten at his last start, was still back, three wide with cover, coming to the home turn when Barnes switched out four wide, giving the leaders a big start.
But Bondi Shake ran right up to Al Barnes’ rap, mounting a big sprint and reeling in his rivals to beat the favourite Rainbow Jet by 1.5 metres, going away.
While the horse had 14 misses beside his name since his last win in February, Barnes said the horse had endured a shocking run of bad luck since returning from a spell.
“He’s been racing well for some time now with no luck and he was just too good for that field tonight.”
The win, Bondi Shake’s fourth in 38 starts, was cut out in a 2:00 mile rate, with closing sectionals of 58.6 and 29.8.
A son of the ill-fated Somebeachsomewhere, he is raced by a big team comprising Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street, Auckland Trotting Club steward Pat Gubb, Bob Best, Merle Gradwell, Lance Myocevich, Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, the Joeraeme Syndicate, Margaret Rabbitt and the Athenry Syndicate.
His form earlier in the year was shipwrecked by a nasty foot abscess but Barnes hopes he will now start to build a consistent record.
Bondi Shake, second from left, comes four wide round the turn before unleashing a big sprint.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
