Bondi will give it a real Shake from the pole on Tuesday and Larry’s a terrific chance too
By Barry Lichter • 21 December 2020
Improving pacer Bondi Shake has drawn to lead and win at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Trainer Al Barnes was delighted when the Somebeachsomewhere gelding drew the pole for the fifth race after his excellent placing last week from the second row.
Bondi Shake followed the pacemaking ex-Kiwi Boomchuckalucka all the way last week and never flinched on his challenge up the straight, despite having missed a couple of day’s work through flooding.
Bondi Shake, who is still officially two until the end of the month, clocked 55.08 for his closing 800 metres and 27.68 for his last 400, with the mile rate a good 1:55.4.
“I was really happy with him, he kept trying, and he’s improving all the time.
“It’s a nice field but I don’t think they’ll beat him in front.”
Larry Lincoln …”airborne”Barnes is also expecting Larry Lincoln and Man Of Action to go well in the following race, drawn the two inside spots.
Larry Lincoln was particularly impressive at his last start when he swept up four wide on the home turn and was right in the fight up the straight, finishing a close fourth.
“He’s airborne at the moment and from two will put himself right in it and be very hard to beat.
“Man Of Action should also be in the money from the inside draw.”
The likely favourite is the Craig Cross-trained Ranger Bomb but he has drawn the outside of the gate.
Bondi Shake races at 5.33pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Man Of Action and Larry Lincoln race at 6.12pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.45pm
“You can’t hold that last race against him and he probably needed the run too as it was his first for a couple of months. Ability-wise he’s very good and on paper he should win. If he turns up, he’s the one to beat for sure.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.20pm
“He got hooked up last week in that melee down the back straight and once you lose that momentum it’s hard, particularly when you’re get back in the field. He’ll go an honest race but he really needs to lose a point or two so he can get a better draw or an easier field.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
9.07pm
“He was closing on the winner last week, even though American Me had already switched off. There are no American Mes this week and you can guarantee he’ll be in it. He’ll go better the Cambridge way round - he handle the corners a lot better.”
Race 9: Ultimate Cullect
9.07pm
“I thought she went quite a good race last week and her driver Tony Cameron also said she went well and tried hard. She lacks a yard of speed - when they accelerate she flounders a bit - but she winds up and whacks away.”
