Bondi Shake’s foot looks ugly but he’s completely recovered from a nasty infection.
Shake will rattle and roll from awful draw on Tuesday and hope for some overdue luck
By Barry Lichter • 31 May 2021
He might have an ugly looking hoof but that won’t stop Bondi Shake from hot footing it out of the gate at Albion Park on Tuesday night.
Lincoln Farms’ three-year-old hasn’t stopped improving since he recovered from a foot infection and has gone to the line untested in this last two starts, unable to find a gap.
At Albion Park last Tuesday, he became trapped in the one-one and only needed some luck in the run home to reward his followers at odds of $51.
“He’s busting to win a race,” says trainer Al Barnes. “It’s just a shame he’s got such a horrible draw on Tuesday.”
Bondi Shake (3) is snookered right in behind the leaders after being unable to get clear in the run home when full of running.Drawn the outside of the arm, Barnes says Bondi Shake will be out of the race over only a mile if he goes back so you can expect his son Hayden to chance his arm at the start.
“We’ll just go out hard and see where we end up. He just needs an ounce of luck to be competitive.”
Barnes had to cut a massive chunk of Bondi Shake’s foot away, all dead and rotten from the infection which stopped him in March.
“His foot’s not pretty but I had to clean it all up and ended up cutting about a quarter of it away.
“But it shouldn’t worry him while it grows back, it’s not raw, it’s just like cutting back a long fingernail.”
Barnes says Bondi Shake is working well and feeling good and is starting to develop into a nice horse.
“He’s showing a lot more strength - after being used up early he’s still getting home well.
“He can run a high 26 out of the gate - he’s learning how to use his gate speed - and he’s in a field that he could beat if he’d drawn better.
“It’s a similar quality field to last time but the New Zealand import Hemsworth looks like he could be good.”
Hemsworth, a last start winner at Gore in March for trainer Kirk Larsen, won a 1660 metre trial at Albion Park on May 18 in a mile rate of 1:55.8.
But drawn the inside of the second row on Tuesday he too will need some luck.
Bondi Shake races at 5.12pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Race 6: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.34pm NZ time
This race will tell us how he measures up against the local horses. We decided to go for this lower graded race, despite having lower prize money, instead of going to the trials one more time. He won the second of two trials on April 21, beating race rival Hezrockinroyalty by four metres. Run over 2230 metres he clocked 57.7 for his last half and 1:59.7 for his last mile. From the pole he’ll start short and be hard to beat.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 7: Lincoln Lou
8.25pm
“He’s a beautiful little horse who doesn’t do anything wrong. He got held up at a crucial time last week and got home well (for sixth). He gets out pretty well so should get a good trip from two. He’ll go his usual honest race. He’s improving all the time, he’s a gutsy little guy, but whether he can measure up to the favourites remains to be seen.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.25pm
“He’s a work in progress and we’re still dabbling with his gear. He’s actually a naturally good-gaited horse, like all the American Ideals, but he’s going through a stage of not really knowing why he’s out there. You just don’t know when he’ll click but three is an ideal draw for him and he should be handy if he does things right.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
9.20pm
“He’s an under-rated horse, as good as those others who are higher rated. He’s proving to be a tidy horse and, while he’s not viewed as a serious player by some, I think he is. He was closing off really well last week behind Hugotastic.”
