Hayden Barnes and Bondi Shake who will be well in the market at Albion Park on Tuesday. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Hayden needs a little birdie on his shoulder from Bondi Shake’s wide draw on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 15 February 2021
The opposition is easier but the draw is tough for Bondi Shake at Albion Park on Tuesday when run of the race will decide his fate.
Lincoln Farms’ improving three-year-old strikes an even bunch in the sixth race at 7.12pm NZ time when he should start one of the favourites after a solid last-start second.
But trainer Al Barnes says just how he fares will depend on how much luck his driver son Hayden gets from six on the gate.
“He’s got a tricky draw but Hayden will more than likely go forward and try to find a position. He’s better being on the speed than coming from last.
“The draw is everything here. If you’ve got to go back it’s hard making ground. It’s a very leader biased track because they run such fast times and fast last halves.
“So it will depend how much work he has to do early.”
Bondi Shake held his own out of the gate last Tuesday before going forward to breeze then secure the one-one trail soon after, spending petrol in a slick opening quarter of 27.3.
“It was a tough race that he was never going to win but he did well to run second.”
Left flat-footed when Targaryen exploded clear, Bondi Shake fought on bravely on a fast 1:54.5 mile rate for the 1660 metres.
“Targaryen has a lot of high speed which he lacks but he does have stamina.”
Given former Southlander Targaryen has won six races - four of seven since arriving in Queensland - Barnes says its certainly a drop in class on Tuesday.
“Maggie will be the one to beat - she came from off the speed to win last time in a 1:56.8 mile rate - but he’s honest and will keep trying.
“He’s a nice bread and butter horse but the winner will be determined by who gets the right position.”
Bondi Shake has notched two wins and five seconds from 11 starts during his three months in Brisbane.
Bondi Shake races at 7.12pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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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.”
