Comerford questions distance for Hell Of A Boy

By Glenn Davis

If North Queensland sprinter Hell Of A Boy had been in another stable, it’s unlikely he would be lining up for his 43rd start at Cluden Park on Saturday.

Owners of Hell Of A Boy can thank hobby trainer Tony Comerford for his personal care when the six-year-old attempts to claim his ninth win in the Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

Hell Of A Boy contracted a rare illness called “puffs” two years ago and is lucky to be still racing thanks to Comerford’s quick thinking.

Puffs is a virus which prevents horses from sweating.

Hell Of A Boy hasn’t seen the spelling paddock since January last year but Comerford doesn’t overtax him and races him sparingly.

“He loves being in the stable and doesn’t handle being in a spelling paddock with all the issues he’s had,” Comerford said.

“We don’t give him too long off and put him out for a week after each run and he seems to like it that way.”

For the past 10 years Comerford has been working at a pump shop in Townsville but has been training a long time.

“I’m still at the pump shop and I’ve only got three horses in work (Chilli Jam, Hell Of A Boy and Victory For Us) and they’re all racing on Saturday,” Comerford said.

Hell Of A Boy finished sixth at his latest start behind the Tom Button-trained Under The Limit at Home Hill on December 28.

“Home Hill didn’t suit him and it was a meeting that was transferred from Townsville because the track is being done up,” Comerford said.

“He got to the line well but he’s coming back in distance on Saturday.

“He’s not a 1000 metre horse and he’s in a strong race so I’m just hoping he’ll go well.”

Comerford rates the Stephen Massingham-trained top weight Bold Type as the main threat along with Le Vizir and Ashton Blair.

“The toppy looks the one to beat but Ashton Blair has a good record over 1000 metres and Le Vizir also goes good," Comerford said. 

Le Vizir – a Ryan Wiggins mount – steps out for the first time since early September last year when the six-year-old finished ninth to the Lindsay Gough-trained Constant Flight in the Cairns Amateur Sprint over 1400 metres.

It was his eighth run that campaign and followed a fast finishing second to the Massingham-trained Full Recognition in the Cairns Newmarket over the same trip at Cairns in the middle of August.

Le Vizir is a son of French sire Siyouni and was a $260,000 purchase as a yearling at the Magic Millions sales in 2019.

He was originally prepared at Rosehill by Gerald Ryan but was moved on to 'Team Snowden' after winning three times at Wyong, Kembla Grange and Warwick Farm in 2021.

His only success in 16 starts for the Snowdens was at Newcastle before he was sold and is now raced by the well-known Jorgensen family in North Queensland.

Le Vizir's trainer Gareth Smith originally hails from Cloncurry before resuming his training career last year following an eight-year lay-off.