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.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
What’s Up The Hill.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm
“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm
“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm
“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”
