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 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
