Bondi Shake runs on for third after pulling too hard at Redcliffe last start.
Redcliffe novelty tripped Bondi Shake but expect competitive effort back at headquarters
By Barry Lichter • 30 June 2021
Bondi Shake won’t find it easy from six on the gate at Albion Park on Friday night but trainer Al Barnes still expects him to run a competitive race.
Bondi Shake comes back from 2040 metres at Redcliffe at his last start to 1660 metres but, more importantly, he will be back in familiar territory.
Barnes says Bondi Shake simply struggled to cope with his first look at Redcliffe on June 24 and had run his race before he even stepped onto the track.
“The stables face the track there and he was a bit excited and nervous all night, which is unlike him. He’s normally very settled.”
The upshot was the horse pulled too hard in the running three deep on the markers and while in the clear and fourth at the 400 metre mark, found none of his usual sprint.
Bondi Shake still ran on for a solid third, only 8.7 metres from winner Get Ready To Rock, the winner mile rating 1:58.4, giving Barnes further evidence he is close to a winning run.
Hayden Barnes will be reunited with Bondi Shake on Friday night.“It’s not a great field on Friday and he’ll be very competitive. I’ve put Hayden back on him and from six he’ll probably have to go back and let him run on.”
Likely favourite the Peter Manning-trained Eva Mateo has the advantage of leaving from gate two. She claims a 1:54.9 mile rate at Bendigo last November and was big first-up in the state when third in the Redcliffe Oaks from a wide second row draw.
Man Of Action goes round in the race after Bondi Shake but Barnes admits he “was pretty plain” at Redcliffe at this last start.
Man Of Action started from three on the second row and raced three back on the outer, finding little when the pressure went on to beat only two home, 10.5 metres from winner Donny Jones.
“He ran a few OK races there for a while but seems happy to follow them round now.
“Still he’ll be better at Albion Park and I’ll have a talk to Hayden about how we drive him.
“We haven’t tried him in front for a while but he might have to work too hard to lead from four.
“It might be better to drive him back, try to get a good trip, and hope he’ll run on.”
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
