
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 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.
More news in Harness
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”

