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Bondi Shake notches his hat-trick last week at Redcliffe.

Go again on Bondi Shake at Redcliffe tonight - and the bookies are spoiling you with $7

Bondi Shake looks over the odds to continue his picket fence form line at Redcliffe tonight.

The three-year-old has scored at each of the last three Wednesdays at Redcliffe, improving his times every start, and trainer Al Barnes doesn’t see his second row draw stopping him tonight - even though bookies have rated him only a $7 fourth favourite.

While Bondi Shake has led in his last two starts, he started his winning streak with a come-from-behind win, rushing past his opposition in the home stretch.

“I think he’s a much better horse coming from behind than in front and he’ll be better over the longer distance too.”

Each of Bondi Shake’s wins have been over the Redcliffe sprint trip of 1780 metres but tonight he tackles 2040 metres from three on the second line.

The opposition, however, is no stronger than last week as, while a rating 58 horse, he gets a five point concession and slots back into a rating 50 to 54 race.

Barnes can picture the race panning out well for Bondi Shake and hopes to see him get a nice cart into the race and be right in the firing line turning for home.

Thursday draws tricky

On Thursday, Barnes takes fellow Lincoln Farms pacers Franco Nandor and Brian Christopher to Redcliffe where their draws will make it a little harder than last week.

Franco Nandor’s second row draw means he won’t get the chance to use his superior gate speed and lead but Barnes says a change of tactics is in the wind for the horse anyway.

“Leading and stopping (like last week) will kill his confidence and I think he’ll go best when we can lead then take a sit.

“We can’t do that from three the second row this week so we’ll drive him in the field and let him run on.”

From five in the eighth race the in-form Brian Christopher is unlikely to make the front either but that doesn’t worry Barnes.

“We won’t bust him out of the gate, he can slide forward and the chair will be there for him.

“The field is a little bit stronger this week but he’ll be more than competitive and should be in the money again.”

In eight starts in Queensland, Brian Christopher has racked up four wins, two seconds and a third. The only time he was out of the money was when new driver Hayden Barnes was not familiar with his strengths and weaknesses - his lack of speed dictating that he be driven on the pace.

Last week he was super tough, sitting parked throughout, and running down white hot favourite The General to win by 2.7 metres.

Bondi Shake races at 8.22pm NZ time at Redcliffe tonight.Bondi Shake races at 8.22pm NZ time at Redcliffe tonight.

Thursday

Franco Nandor races at 5.42pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.Franco Nandor races at 5.42pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.Brian Christopher races at 6.57pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.Brian Christopher races at 6.57pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Thursday night at Cambridge

Race 1: The Night Fox
4.59pm

“He’s racing well and I can’t fault him. The opposition is stronger this time but I can’t see why he won’t go another good race.”

Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
5.59pm

“She’s a good, tough mare. It depends on the trip you get in these sort of races but she loves it when they run hard and she can get some of the money.”

Race 3: Ultimate Cullect
5.59pm

“We haven’t had a lot of time to assess her yet. From the one drive I’ve had on her she doesn’t strike me as a sit-sprinter. But if they go hard, hopefully she’ll get home well.”

Race 5: Lincoln Maree
6.57pm

“It’s a “brutal” race but she’s drawn to get a suck along and hopefully she can last well enough for a cheque.”

Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.29pm

“There are a few in there that are better than him but he has a handicap advantage and, if he gets a good trip, he could get some of it. He steps well and his driver reckoned he would have won last week if he’d got the run at the right time.”

Race 10: Sammy Lincoln
9.23pm

“I can’t imagine him being beaten - they’d have to knock him over. He’s very fast and in case he has to move quickly early we’ll use the shorteners. I can’t see any problem with him going left-handed - he’s probably better that way.”

Race 11: Rivergirl Bella
9.54pm

“She’s honest and will try hard.”

Dan Costello Race Photography