Bondi Shake set to go the way of Larry - all the way to the United States
By Barry Lichter • 11 August 2021
The imminent American race debut of former Lincoln Farms’ pacer Larry Lincoln is likely to help finance the sale of another horse - tonight’s hat-trick winning pacer Bondi Shake.
Marburg trainer Al Barnes, who won eight races with Larry Lincoln before his sale in March, says Bondi Shake is all but sold to the same New Jersey stable - that of trainer-driver Austin Siegelman.
“Austin is dead keen and just wants a little time to earn a few cheques. They love Larry and he’s all ready to race after qualifying last week in 1:53.”
The Siegelman-Leah Posner combination has already enjoyed plenty of success with former Lincoln Farms’ iron horse Vasari and can’t get enough of the horses in Lincoln green.
Barnes says Bondi Shake is the perfect horse for American racing.
“He’s honest, very similar to Billy Lincoln, clean gaited, and he can lead or come from behind.”
It was every post a winner tonight at Redcliffe as Brendan Barnes shot Bondi Shake straight to the front and repeated his win of last week down to one tenth of a second.
Brendan Barnes … “when they got to him he took off again.”And while a dashing late close from Flo Ryda cut the winning margin to a neck, the result was never really in doubt.
“Brendan said he switched off a little late but when they got to him he took off again.”
Barnes, who was confident of a winning run tonight, says Bondi Shake is right back to his best after shrugging off soreness issues and bolted away from the field in the back straight with a 28.4 third quarter.
“He wants to do it again and should continue with the good form.”
Barnes is now in a dilemma over whether to keep racing at Redcliffe, where he has won $2866 three weeks in a row, or to move to Albion Park to chase bigger stakes.
“It might be a smarter move to stay at Redcliffe. He’s won six races now and is a 58 rater but with our three-year-old concession of five points he can race in a 50 to 53 race next week, basically the same grade.”
Bondi Shake, who paid $2 on the New Zealand tote, got home in 28.8 for a mile rate of 1:58.3 over the 1780 metres.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Wednesday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
5.11pm
“She’s finding her feet and was a bit unlucky at Taupo. She put in a few rough ones out of the gate - she was like that early in her prep and could just jump out of it - but she’s generally doing things right now. She trained well on Saturday and, with the right run, could run top three.”
Race 3: The Night Fox
6pm
“He won really well on the second day at Hawera and if he races anything like he’s training he’ll be hard to beat. He ran a 27.3 quarter during the week and I was just sitting on him. I’ll tell Craig to go forward, set an even tempo and cut him loose at the 600. I think he’s our best of the night.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.35pm
“Hopefully he’s improved since Taupo when Fergie drove him a treat in front. I actually think he’s better coming off something’s back but I’ll leave it up to Fergie. He’s up a bit in grade but has the right draw to be in it all the way.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.32pm
“He had an easy run last week and he can go a lot faster than that. He should be hard to beat. It won’t matter if he doesn’t find the lead from six, he’ll be just as effective coming from off the pace. He’s a pretty classy horse, classier than most of those against him.”
