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.
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.”
