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
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Tyson
5.31pm
“He’s not the best steering horse in the world. He’ll win races but he’s a funny horse and you can never be sure which Tyson will turn up.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.29pm
“Drawn the outside of the second line he was never going to be in the hunt last time but Maurice said he paced much better. We’re trying him in spreaders and from one on the second row he should get a better trip. It all depends on which one turns up. We know he’s capable of winning if he comes with his A game.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.30pm
“I’ve changed his bit to try to slow him down. He’s been pulling too hard. He’s an honest horse who you can never count out.”
Race 5: Kevin Kline
7.30pm
“I’m always pleased with Kevin - he never runs a bad race. He gave the favourite (Mantra Blue) a bit of a fright last week and in another 20 metres I think he would have got her. It’s only 1700 metres this time and he looks a good chance. The five draw shouldn’t bother him as he can do a bit of work.”
Race 7: The Rascal
8.22pm
“I thought he was pretty good last week despite not handling the corners. I’ve put spreaders on him this time, and he’s trained well in them, so it should give him every opportunity. I rate him a winning chance.”
