Bondi Shake has been way too good for his Redcliffe rivals in his last two starts. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Full of confidence, Bondi Shake spearheads Al’s leaders at Redcliffe this week
By Barry Lichter • 10 August 2021
With all three of his runners drawn to lead, Marburg trainer Al Barnes is hoping he can keep his good strike rate going for Lincoln Farms at Redcliffe this week.
Barnes scored wins with Bondi Shake and Franco Nandor last week, supplemented by a placing with Brian Christopher, and lines up all three horses again.
First cab off the rank on Wednesday night is Bondi Shake whose form has completely turned around now that he’s put his soreness issues behind him.
Bondi Shake made it back-to-back wins last week when he led all the way from gate four, winning as he liked by 7.5 metres in a 1:58.4 mile rate.
“From two this time he should be leading and winning,” says Barnes. “It’s no harder this week and he looks a good bet.
“He’s done really well through the week and his confidence is up now he’s got over his soreness.”
On Thursday Franco Nandor is also set to make the pace from three on the gate in the seventh race.
The Mach Three gelding led from four last week and, after being looked in the eye early in the run home, did well to prevail by a nose.
“He should lead and run first or second. It’ll just be a case of whether he hangs on again or not.”
Barnes says his preference would be to drive the horse to lead then take a sit.
“But that’s more an Albion Park tactic. It’s hard to find the right one to let go at Redcliffe.
“We’ll lead and do our best.”
Lacking any real speed, Brian Christopher needs to be up on the pace in the eighth race and that’s exactly where Barnes says he’ll be.
“He can’t come from off the pace, he’s better in front or outside the leader which is where he raced last week.
“That suits him as he’s tough and he tries hard.”
Barnes says Brian Christopher, from three, will have a crack for the top and he hopes he’ll have enough respect to get there.
“The McCarthy horse (The General) should take a sit on him as they know they’ll get a good trip. But we should run top three again.”
Man Of Action striding out at Pukekohe for Zachary Butcher.Meanwhile Barnes said goodbye to Man Of Action last weekend, the horse sold to Marburg track stalwarts Doug and Karen Manger.
The four-year-old, who has been on a losing streak of 29 races since winning his third start in Queensland, never achieved the heights of his speedy half brother Make Way.
He goes with a career record of three wins and 12 placings from 51 starts for earnings of $47,154, just the credentials to qualify him to be pampered by the Mangers who say they train “race pets”, not race horses.
Bondi Shake races at 7.55pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.
Franco Nandor races at 6.12pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.
Brian Christopher races at 6.47pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
6.18pm
“He was checked and locked wheels into the first turn last week and he had a decent puncture wound in his leg from where they ran into him so you certainly couldn’t condemn him for galloping. He’s a really nice horse, who is going to win races quickly. He hasn’t missed any work, and should be right in it.”
Race 3: Lincoln Wave
6.43pm
“He’s drawn wide again (six) but he’s good enough to get the job done. It’s a bit more of a test for him but there are no cup horses in there and he’s a pretty nice horse. We’ve waited for both him and Sammy Lincoln because of their setbacks at two but it’s been worth it.”
Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
7.11pm
“He was very tough in winning after sitting parked last week. He’s awkwardly drawn again but he tries hard and, with a bit of luck and a good trip, he can get some of it.”
Race 6: Tyson
8.08pm
“Completely forget his run last week when he had no luck in the running. He’s a definite chance.”
Race 6: Spiritual Bliss
8.08pm
“She took no harm from the incident last Friday and has trained on well. I think she’ll go well. If you analyse her run, they went down the back in 27.8 and she did well to finish on for fourth after sitting parked.”
