Bondi Shake has Blue Shard and Coppice well covered at the finish at Albion Park on Tuesday. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Front-running displays land Bondi Shake a winner and Larry Lincoln a fine second
By Barry Lichter • 22 December 2020
Trainer Al Barnes loved the report he got from his driver son Hayden after Bondi Shake delivered at Albion Park today.
“Hayden said he’s a hard horse to get past when he’s in front - he’s tough and he wants to win.”
That summed up beautifully the horse’s front-running performance when he reeled of his closing 800 metres in 56.3 and 400 in 27.9 to beat Blue Shard by 2.3 metres.
“I like that he’s developing a bit of gate speed too,” Barnes said. “He’s pacing well and starting to put it all together.
“He travelled a lot stronger in front today. He’s still got a lot to learn on how to be a racehorse but he’ll keep improving.”
Barnes says Bondi Shake will have one more start as a two-year-old - the season which was extended because of Covid-19 is due to end in the New Year.
“He’ll be in three-year-old class racing in the new year but he’s racing them now anyway. He was a rating 35 today in a 35 to 51 class today so he stepped up and won anyway.”
The win took Bondi Shake’s record to two wins, two seconds and a fourth in only five starts since being sent to Brisbane for earnings of A$12,324. His New Zealand record was a poor two placings from 11 starts.
Bondi Shake is raced by Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street and a big group of partners including Bob Best, Merle Gradwell, Pat Gubb, Lance Myocevich, Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, the Joeraeme Syndicate, Margaret Rabbitt and the Athenry Syndicate.
The well regarded Ranger Bomb grabs Larry Lincoln late in the stretch at Albion Park today.Larry Lincoln showed another string to his bow when he led the following race and succumbed only in the last few metres to the hot $1.60 favourite Ranger Bomb.
“Hayden was rapt with his gate speed. We haven’t asked him for it lately but it’s nice to see him use it and still get home.”
Larry Lincoln couldn’t finish off his races initially after doing early work but Barnes says he’s growing in stature as he gets more confidence.
“Hayden said he really settled well today and he ripped home the last quarter. He couldn’t do much more, running home in 26.2.
“The winner is being set for the Chariots Of Fire so it’s no disgrace being beaten by him.”
The Craig Cross-trained Ranger Bomb was clocked to run the 1660 metres in 1:57.9, a mile rate of 1:54.3 and Larry Lincoln was just 1.4 metres behind at the post, the final 800 metres in 55.6.
Man Of Action, who weakened from the trail to seventh, is tired, says Barnes, and will go for a break.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Addington
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
4.03pm
“She’s drawn out but I think she’s got the gate speed to be put into the race. You’ve got to be handy to beat the good ones and we don’t want to be stuck behind some of the others. The one drawn two inside us, Arafura, looks the one to beat but Debbie is as good as anything in the race in my opinion. It’s not going to be easy but I’m hopeful. She’s done well down here and is in good shape.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 5: Im Not The Maid
6.17pm
“The draw helps and while she’s very honest she still needs to improve. Gary Hall said she was a bit stop-start last time but he cut corners and wasn’t too far away at the finish. He reckoned his toe rope broke at the top of the straight.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
7.49pm
“She showed no speed when resuming and it’s hard to see her playing a part in this.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
7.49pm
“She went the best of them last time, was hampered turning or home, and could improve.”
Race 8: Jessie Lincoln
7.49pm
“She’s a big filly but so far, so good. There are a few negatives, like the second row draw and it being her first time under lights, but I think she could go quite well. It’s not a wonderful lot against her and she’s training well.”
Race 8: Lincoln’s Spice
7.49pm
“She over-raced early first-up and burned herself out. She’s a delicate little thing but we’ll put some plugs in her this week. Last time in I thought she could be the best of them. Whether the others have caught her up or she’s gone backwards I don’t know.”
