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Beaudiene Boaz was sold immediately after this Harness Jewels triumph in 2014

Suspected snake bite in the Badlands claims Beaudiene Boaz

Former Harness Jewels winner Beaudiene Boaz is dead, victim off a suspected snake bite.

The crack pacer, who was sold by Lincoln Farms in 2014, and went on to win 25 races and $1.25 million, had only just been retired by leading Perth trainer Gary Hall.

Sent south to a farm where he was to begin stud duties, the seven-year-old was found dead in his paddock this week.

“There’s no confirmation it was a snake bite but that’s what the vet reckoned caused it, judging by vital signs like his gums,’’ says Hall.

Hall recalls how he “paid far too much’’ for the Badlands Hanover colt after he scored a big upset in the Two-Year-Old Emerald at Cambridge.

“I could have bought him before the Jewels but I told the boys he’d get his brains kicked in by the stars and we’d get him cheaper afterwards.’’

Gary Hall … hoped to stand the horse commerciallyGary Hall … hoped to stand the horse commerciallyBut when the Lincoln Farms’ colt downed Bettor Spirits and Express Stride at odds of more than 37-to-one, Hall ended up having to dig deeper to find the new $250,000 asking price.

Within a few weeks of landing in Perth Beaudiene Boaz won the $125,000 Golden Slipper, the first of his five Group I wins.

In a trailblazing campaign Beaudiene Boaz won 19 of his first 23 starts in Perth.

A West Australian Derby win was followed by the Four-Year-Old Classic then the Gold Nugget before the $300,000 Fremantle Pacing Cup.

“He was a really good horse,’’ says Hall. “I thought he was going to be next best to Quinny (champion pacer I’m Themightyquinn) but he didn’t achieve what he could have.’’

Beaudiene Boaz ended up injuring a suspensory ligament and just when it looked like he would stand up to training when he made it back to the stable, he went in the leg again.

“He ended up being a bit of a bleeder too and in hindsight he might have been hurting because he changed from the quietest stallion you would find to being real nasty.

“His whole personality changed and I even had to twitch him to put his gear on.

“But he was a great pacer and were going to put a couple of mares to him. He was such a nice type I thought he might throw some nice horses.’’

This week’s freak death ended Hall’s hopes of standing the horse commercially.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Tuesday at Addington

Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
4.03pm

“She’s drawn out but I think she’s got the gate speed to be put into the race. You’ve got to be handy to beat the good ones and we don’t want to be stuck behind some of the others. The one drawn two inside us, Arafura, looks the one to beat but Debbie is as good as anything in the race in my opinion. It’s not going to be easy but I’m hopeful. She’s done well down here and is in good shape.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Cambridge

Race 5: Im Not The Maid
6.17pm

“The draw helps and while she’s very honest she still needs to improve. Gary Hall said she was a bit stop-start last time but he cut corners and wasn’t too far away at the finish. He reckoned his toe rope broke at the top of the straight.”

Race 8: Lincoln Maree
7.49pm

“She showed no speed when resuming and it’s hard to see her playing a part in this.”

Race 8: Lincoln Downs
7.49pm

“She went the best of them last time, was hampered turning or home, and could improve.”

Race 8: Jessie Lincoln
7.49pm

“She’s a big filly but so far, so good. There are a few negatives, like the second row draw and it being her first time under lights, but I think she could go quite well. It’s not a wonderful lot against her and she’s training well.”

Race 8: Lincoln’s Spice
7.49pm

“She over-raced early first-up and burned herself out. She’s a delicate little thing but we’ll put some plugs in her this week. Last time in I thought she could be the best of them. Whether the others have caught her up or she’s gone backwards I don’t know.”

Dan Costello Race Photography