Redcliffe double and Nandor’s nose credits Al with 50 wins for Lincoln Farms

Marburg trainer Al Barnes racked up his 50th win for Lincoln Farms when first Bondi Shake then Franco Nandor scored at Redcliffe tonight.

Bondi Shake made a mess of his rivals in the fourth race, winning as he liked at great odds of $8.90, then later in the night Franco Nandor got up off the canvas when looking to be all done on the home turn to prevail by a nose as a $1.90 favourite.

The milestone for Barnes might have come at a lowly Redcliffe meeting but he was still rapt with the feat, having been training for John and Lynne Street’s Lincoln Farms for just two years and five months.

“I’m happy with the job I’ve done and you’ve got to remember it’s been mostly with ordinary stock, the ones no one else wanted.

“Hopefully John’s happy with what I’ve achieved and will send me some more horses.”

Since Trojan Banner notched the first win for Barnes in March, 2019, a total of 13 horses have contributed to the 50 wins.

Al Barnes with son Brendan who drove Bondi Shake to win tonight.Barnes said having the Lincoln Farms’ runners had been good for him during a difficult period in his life.

“Since the break-up with my missus it’s given me drive and passion and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”

More recently, with the departure of his son Hayden he’s also been training the team by himself.

“Doing eight horses has been a big job but I’ve learned how to work them properly and it’s been very rewarding to get these good results.”

Barnes has lined up six winners in the last five weeks and driven some of them himself which he said had added another layer of enjoyment.

But Barnes engaged top driver Shane Graham for Franco Nandor again tonight to give him every chance - and the move paid off.

Franco Nandor used his great gate speed to lead but when Graham went for the horse on the home turn he didn’t respond.

“Shane said as soon as he put the whip away the horse tried again. He’s obviously better when you leave him alone.

“He was stopping again on the line but he just made it. It’s only Redcliffe so he should be beating those horses.”

Ironically, Franco Nandor’s win came just one day after Lincoln Farms’ Captain Nemo scored at Albion Park, both horses co-owned by two of New Zealand’s leading golfers.

John Street gave Olympian Ryan Fox an all expenses paid share in Franco Nandor after he won the Wairakei Invitational last year and he gifted runner-up Gareth Paddison a share in Captain Nemo. The other partners in Franco Nandor are Denis Ebert, Steve MacDonald, Chris Prutton and Wayne Seebeck.

It’s Bondi Shake first, daylight second at Redcliffe tonight.

Al’s plan to beat $1.30 hotpot works

For Barnes, the only surprise about Bondi Shake’s win was his $8.90 price.

Barnes was confident the horse would be in the money again after finally recapturing his best form on the course last week - and the plan he hatched to beat the red hot favourite did the trick.

Barnes told his driver son Brendan to have a crack for the front, even though he was drawn outside $1.30 shot Peppa Bliss.

“I knew he had gate speed - he’s got out in 26.8 before - he just hasn’t been able to use it because he’s had a succession of bad draws.

“And after Hayden told me last week the horse felt like he could have led on his ear, I was confident he could do it this time.”

Barnes was spot on as Bondi Shake came out with a full head of steam and easily crossed to the lead, parking the favourite.

And when Peppa Bliss paced roughly and broke 500 metres from home, the race was all over, Bondi Shake sprinting clear of the trailing third favourite La Pistola to win by 7.5 lengths with plenty of petrol in reserve.

Bondi Shake clocked a solid 1:58.4 mile rate for the 1780 metres, closing in 57.8 and 29.5 to take his Redcliffe record to two wins, two seconds, a third and fifth from six starts.

“He’s back to his old form now,” said Barnes. “He hardly ever missed a cheque before he got that foot abscess. It blew away half his foot and the damage took a long time to come right.”

The win was Bondi Shake’s fifth for Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street and their partners Bob Best, Merle Gradwell, Pat Gubb, Lance Myocevich, Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, the Joeraeme Syndicate, Margaret Rabbitt and the Athenry Syndicate.