Derby’s the goal with Bondi Shake now his foot has mended but he’ll be too tubby on Tuesday

Trainer Al Barnes is aiming to get consistent pacer Bondi Shake into the A$100,000 Queensland Derby in July - but don’t expect him to ruffle too many feathers when he resumes at Albion Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Bondi Shake will be having his first race for three months when he lines up from a good gate in the fourth race but Barnes says without the benefit of a trial he will need the hit-out.

“I was going to trial him last week but missed out on a start - they’ve limited trials to only those needing to re-qualify - so rather than miss out again this week I nominated to race. “He’s working brilliantly but is still a little tubby. I’m really happy with him though, I think he’s come back a lot better. The break has done him good and he’s bulked up.”

Barnes had to pull pin on Bondi Shake in early March when a deep seated abscess took forever to blow out completely.

Despite only once having failed to earn a cheque in 15 starts in Queensland Bondi Shake started hanging in and running away from the soreness.

“But his foot is good now and he’s driving straight. He’s looking good and I think he’ll do a good job. I like him.

“I’m hoping to get a start in the derby on July 24. He only has to stay consistent to get in. There’ll be some good horses in it but you never know what’s going to happen with Covid.

“And he’s a very good chaser so a trip like the 2680 metres of the derby won’t hurt him. That’s the goal anyway.”

Barnes says while he’d like to see his son Hayden get the front with Bondi Shake on Tuesday, he’s not sure whether he will be able to cross the expected hot favourite Dance In The Sun, drawn the pole.

“And we don’t want to cook him first-up.”

Bondi Shake, who has banked A$24,200 since arriving in Queensland, is raced by Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street in partnership with Bob Best, Merle Gradwell, Pat Gubb, Lance Myocevich, Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, the Joeraeme Syndicate, Margaret Rabbitt and the Athenry Syndicate.

Trainer Al Barnes has had to put on his psychiatrist cap for Man Of Action. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Frustrating

Barnes takes the frustrating Man Of Action to Redcliffe again on Wednesday night, hoping the latest of a battery of changes has turned his attitude around.

Man Of Action ran another poor race at Redcliffe last Thursday, failing to beat one home.

“He’s brilliant for the first lap then he’s done and doesn’t want to go any more. The frustrating thing is he pulls up brilliantly like he hasn’t raced.

“It’s not a fitness or health problem, I just have to work out how to make him want to do it again.”

Barnes says Man Of Action was spending his time chewing posts, and drinking ridiculous amounts of water, then peeing incessantly, all seemingly out of boredom.

“He was hating life so this week I’ve trained him out of the paddock and let him pick grass.

“He was on a loose rein during his first trip on Sunday but after I walked him a lap he did the second trip on the bit and felt brilliant.”

Drawn three in the fourth race, Barnes will drive the horse himself and hope to see some improvement after a run of 15 outs.

Bondi Shake races at 3.33pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.

Man Of Action races at 8.34pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.