Boy Beats Adversity to Return to the Track

This time last year former Victorian galloper Hell Of A Boy was at the start of a golden winning run through the grades.

Wind the clock forward a year and the now five-year-old will continue a remarkable comeback at Cluden Park tomorrow after a debilitating disease all but ended his budding career.

Hell Of A Boy has been to hell and back, after being floored by a severe case of the “puffs”, a condition that prevents horses from sweating, and a rare virus that caused him to break out in lumps.

His trainer Tony Comerford is amazed the son of Eurozone has fought his way back to the race track.

“We spelled him after his last win in January with the idea the boys wanted to race him over carnival.  And then when we had the really hot period over March he got the puffs and was really crook and had some mad disease as well,” Comerford said.

“I didn’t think he’d pull through it to be honest. He went two weeks straight with a temperature of 39.5 and on a couple of days it hit 40.

“He was boiling and couldn’t sweat and we were hosing him down three times a day just to get his temperature down.

“He turned white, he lost all of his hair and just didn’t sweat.

“Eventually he started sweating again once the weather turned.

“He was at home for two months before we did anything with him.

“Because I went a bit easy on him at the start he’s taken a couple of runs to come good but it’s remarkable that we’ve been able to get him back at all.

“I was so glad for the boys when he won the other day. They’ve spent of a lot of money to get him back and they’ve finally got a return.”

Hell Of A Boy was one of the most consistent horses in training in Townsville over last Spring and Summer, with four wins and four placings from 10 starts.

Understandably, Comerford has given the gelding a slow, steady build-up to his preparation and the gelding showed he was starting to regain his old form with a solid third to the in-form Bold Kingston at Cluden on October 13.

At his most recent run he was back in business when he charged through a gap late for jockey Bonnie Thomson to record a resounding win to the cheers of his owners over 1200m on October 22.

Although meeting tougher company in tomorrow’s Mitavite Open Hcp, Hell Of A Boy will step up to his pet distance of 1400m, over which he has produced three wins and three placings from six starts.

Comerford says Hell Of A Boy is looking the best he’s been this preparation and expects the tough gelding to acquit himself well with Thomson again to ride.

“He’s in a much tougher race on Tuesday but he loves the 1400m and if he hits the line like he did when he won the other day I think he can finish in the money somewhere,” Comerford said.

“Depending on how he goes we might even look at trying him over a mile. He’s untested at the trip but I think he can get it.”

Tomorrow’s seven-event card kicks off with the Hygain QTIS 3YO Mdn Hcp (1200m) at 12.57pm.

Pictured: That's the boy! Hell Of A Boy powers to victory with Bonnie Thomson in the saddle at Cluden past month. He will continue his amazing comeback in Townsville tomorrow.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race day.