Second row draw makes it tough again for Bondi Shake at Albion Park on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 14 June 2021
Bondi Shake will be driven for luck at Albion Park on Tuesday after again drawing badly on the second row.
The improving three-year-old, who has been dead stiff at long odds in a couple of his recent runs, came from three back on the markers to run fourth in his latest start last Tuesday to finish only 7.8 metres from the winner and hot favourite Call Me Keith.
And trainer-driver Al Barnes says the horse finished as well as anything in the race, clocking closing sectionals of 56.4 and 27.6.
“That topped him off fitness wise. But I’ll have to drive defensively again from three on the second row. I’ll come up the fence and look for gaps.”
Barnes says Bondi Shake is a much improved version since recovering from a foot abscess but, while he always tried hard, he is now up against stronger opposition too.
“It’s very strong here at the moment with a lot of southern horses. There’d have to be 80 to 100 of them here and that will only increase over the winter carnival.
“He’s in between in the ratings at the moment, with so many in that grade. But when he drops one more point he’ll be on the lower side (and benefit from the preferential barrier draw).”
Meanwhile Lincoln Farms newbie Brian Christopher is set to debut in Brisbane next week, on either the Tuesday or Thursday.
“It’s all Redcliffe this week and I didn’t want to take him there. I also had the chiropracter go over him to fix a few problems in his back end and that takes five to seven days to heal.”
Bondi Shake races at 5.47pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
