
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.
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.
More news in Harness
Kevin Kline the kind of horse everybody would love to own - he just keeps running
Debt-ridden ATC on back foot again after buyer pulls out of $70m sale of Franklin Park
It’s an even line-up but stick with fleet-footed Debbie Lincoln at Auckland on Friday night
All hail Debbie, the new speed queen of Alex Park, as she tackles a mile from the pole
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan’s comments
Thurday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Dreams Of Eric
6.03pm
“He’s just come back from a two-week break and seems a lot better after the freshen-up. He’s training really well but this will be like a trial for him. There looks to be a lot of speed in the race so, from five, he won’t be put into the early rush. We’re still aiming him at the Harness 5000 at Ashburton in December.”

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Kevin Kline
4.44pm
“He was held up last week but still got home really well, hard on their backs and, with the right trip, he’ll be dangerous. But the race looks suited to a horse like Hooray Henry who, in a small field, can sit back and outsprint them.
Race 9: Tyson
8.54pm
“We were looking to sit in with him last week but it didn’t work out. He still ran on pretty well as he always does. He just needs a bit of luck.”
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
8.54pm
“Maurice was happy with her run last week and said she paced strongly through the line. From seven on the gate this week she’ll have to go back but I think she’s better coming from off the pace. She’s a good chance if she can get sucked into it at the right time.”

