Reeling in the winners on and off the track - Al proud of his sons Hayden and Brendan

Trainer Al Barnes gave all the credit for Lincoln Farms’ winning double at Albion Park today to his sons Hayden and Brendan.

When Larry Lincoln and Bondi Shake were effortlessly reeling in their rivals today, Barnes was 1100km away at Airlie Beach, just north of Mackay on Queensland’s Whitsunday Coast, reeling in his own catch, a 10kg 110cm Cobia.

Barnes’ fishing trip was an overdue and much needed break and the first time he’d left the boys in charge of the team.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Barnes. “They’ve done the work all week by themselves and obviously done a very good job.”

Hayden talked to his dad after Larry Lincoln’s electric win, his fourth on end and fifth from only seven starts since arriving in Australia.

Larry Lincoln makes it four wins on end with another display of sheer speed in Brisbane today. PHOTO: Dan Costello.We caught him just as he was loading Larry Lincoln, Man Of Action and Bondi Shake onto the truck for the trip home and he was rightfully high on the day’s achievements.

“Larry has surprised me with his speed,” Hayden said. “When he first got here I thought he’d do a good job but I didn’t think he was as fast as he is.”

Hayden handled the horse patiently again, settling three back in the running line and he had a fair bit of ground to make up 600 metres from home.

But when he asked the little horse to run he swished round at real pace.

“It didn’t worry me when that other horse came out underneath me and pushed me four wide. I thought I’d let him wind up down the outside as I know he has a good 400 metre sprint.”

Larry Lincoln quickly gathered in his rivals, clocked over his last 800 metres in 55.9 and 400 in 28, to beat Betterthandiamonds by 1.7 metres in a 1:54.9 mile rate.

“I think she’s going to be a very nice horse and the higher the grade he gets into the better he’ll go. They go quicker up the grades and the faster they go, the better he’ll like it.”

Larry Lincoln and Man Of Action, who weakened late to fifth after leading, are both in again on Saturday night, but a decision on a start won’t be made until their feed bins are monitored over the next day or two.

Al Barnes is keen to get the pair in a Saturday night routine with a view to tackling a Group III A$30,000 three-year-old race over 2138 metres on December 5.

Bondi Shake strolls past second favourite Woodlands Rose to score first-up in Brisbane. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Crucial changes

Hayden made a number of crucial changes to Bondi Shake’s gear which helped him score on his Brisbane debut.

“I pulled his hopples up one hole today which helped him pace better than he did in the trial.

“And I also changed from a straight bit to a snaffle to make it harder for him to grab on. He was trying to go too keenly last week.”

Hayden also fitted the horse with ear plugs - “he’s still a bit green and he was looking at the mobile and the grey clerk of the course’s horse, which he didn’t like.”

But in the end Hayden said Bondi Shake won very easily, despite gradually working up wide to sit parked throughout.

In the run home he raced past second favourite Woodlands Rose to score by 3.2 metres covering the 1660 metres in a mile rate of 1:57.4, home in 57.2 and 27.9.

Carrying Lincoln Farms’ now familiar green livery, Bondi Stake was backed down to a white hot $1.30 favourite.

The win was welcomed by Bondi Shake’s big team of owners, who were naturally disappointed when he failed to live up to his early promise.

Bob Best, Merle Gradwell, Pat Gubb, Lance Myocevich, Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, Margaret Rabbitt, the Joeraeme Syndicate, the Athenry Syndicate and John and Lynne Street were hoping Bondi Shake would be a serious Young Gun.

But Lincoln Farms’ Pukekohe trainer Ray Green said while the Somebeachsomewhere youngster initially looked like he’d be one of the best of their babies he simply failed to improve.

Now three, but still classed as a two-year-old in Australia until the end of next month through a Covid-19 season extension, he could now be ready to make amends.