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.
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
