All eyes on Beaudiene Boaz

Rising superstar Beaudiene Boaz, laid low in hospital for two weeks in May as he underwent constant treatment for a serious eye injury, has recovered fully and is poised to make a triumphant return to harness racing at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The champion four-year-old will start his interdominion championship campaign when he contests the $23,000 Premier Avan Aliner Pace over 1730m in which he will renew his rivalry with his brilliant four-year-old stablemate Run Oneover.

He will start out wide at barrier seven, with stablemates Cyamach at barrier eight, Run Oneover on the outside at nine and Classic American at No. 5.

“It’s all good and it won’t be a problem,” said trainer Gary Hall sen. “He has recovered from the injury to his nearside eye and his recent work has been good, just as you would expect from him. He’s a bit porky, but he should be too good for them, I think.”

Gary Hall jun. will handle Beaudiene Boaz and his elder brother Clint will drive Run Oneover.

Beaudiene Boaz, a winner of five group 1 events in a glittering career of 29 starts which have produced 21 wins and four placings for earnings of $982,604, received severe damage to his nearside eye after a track workout in early May.

“We think he must have been hit by a rock when coming off the track,” said Hall sen. “He spent two weeks in a veterinary hospital in Baldivis and received treatment four times a day. It was quite a substantial injury and he could hardly open his eye. It has left a little white spot in the eye.

“We’ve got no time now for him to have a spell before the Inters. We’ll just space his runs.”

Beaudiene Boaz has not raced since he trailed the pacemaker Devendra and ran home determinedly to finish third to My Hard Copy and Devendra in the 2936m WA Pacing Cup on January 15.

Hall sen. said that he also expected a bold showing from Run Oneover in this week’s race, reporting that Run Oneover had thrived since he dashed to the front after 700m and went on to win the 2536m Winter Cup easily from stablemates Ideal Alice and Waylade last Friday week.

Ken Casellas