Leading harness racing trainer Gary Hall sen. declared that brilliant four-year-old Beaudiene Boaz is at his peak and has excellent prospects of completing a rich feature double by winning the $200,000 Retravision Golden Nugget Championship at Gloucester Park on Sunday afternoon.
If Gary Hall jun. drives Beaudiene Boaz to victory in the group 1 classic the New Zealand-bred horse will become the tenth pacer to achieve the McInerney Ford Classic-Golden Nugget double. This list includes pacers of the calibre of Salinger, Saab, Mr Yankee, Lombo Pocket Watch and Bonavista Bay.
Last year the Hall stable just failed to achieve this feat when Waylade, winner of the McInerney Ford Classic, finished second to Libertybelle Midfrew in the Nugget.
On Friday night of last week Beaudiene Boaz started from the back line in the McInerney Ford Classic and finished strongly from seventh at the bell to get up and snatch victory by a nose from stablemate and pacemaker Run Oneover when the final quarters of the 2130m event were covered in 28.9sec., 28.3sec., 28.6sec. and 28.2sec.
This improved Beaudiene Boaz’s record to 25 starts for 18 wins, three placings and $572,504 in stakemoney.
“Beaudiene Boaz is in top form and will go as well in the Nugget as he did last week,” Hall said. “From the draw, Run Oneover could be the main danger.”
Run Oneover, to be driven by Clint Hall, will start from barrier four on the front line with Beaudiene Boaz (Gary Hall jun.) at No. 5.
“The draws could have been worse and everything is under control, as much as I can get things under control,” said Hall sen. “I’m very happy with both of them. They worked together at home this morning (Wednesday). It was just pacework before they ran home, and they ran home very quickly and finished on terms.”
The promising, lightly-raced Kiwi Legend came into contention after drawing favourably at No. 2 and he has sound prospects of giving Henley Brook trainer Mike Reed and his son, reinsman Mark, another success in the Nugget after they combined to win the 2014 Nugget with Libertybelle Midfrew.
Kiwi Legend has raced only 13 times for six wins and four placings. He trailed the pacemaker Bettor Reward when a well-beaten third behind that pacer and Beaudiene Boaz in the 2536m Four-Year-Old Championship on November 27. Beaudiene Boaz raced without cover for most of the journey and Bettor Reward, a 33/1 chance, was untroubled to win by three lengths, rating 1.56.6.
Bettor Reward, trained and driven by Justin Prentice, maintained his form with a solid third to Beaudiene Boaz in the McInerney Ford Classic. He again should be prominent despite starting from the outside (barrier three) on the back line.
Victorian pacers Menin Gate and Cruz Bromac will have admirers, but will need some luck from awkward draws. Menin Gate has had no luck when unplaced at his first two WA starts in recent weeks, while the lightly-raced Cruz Bromac trailed the pacemaker Run Oneover and was hampered for a clear run in the final stages when fourth behind Beaudiene Boaz in the McInerney Ford Classic.
Ken Casellas