Group 1 winner for Poster Boy
Date: 10 Aug 2026
From HarnessLink (Tony Milanese, published 8 August 2026)
Classy colt Hez The Boss (Poster Boy) lived up to
his reputation with a slashing harness racing win in the Group 1
$250,000 Hoist Torque Pearl Classic Final for two year old colts and
geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.
A prohibitive odds on favourite on the strength of winning his last
five starts and being the most impressive of the heat winners Hez The
Boss showed brilliant early speed to hold out his main rival Ideal
Whisper who was left with no option but to stay outside the leader.
Rip Tide from his inside second row draw was able to follow up and
take the trail behind Hez The Boss but tended to race ungenerously while
Bonebuster had the one out and one back trail.
Gary Hall Jnr was able to allow Hez The Boss to set his own terms in
front. And when he let him go to run his third quarter in 27.8 seconds
Hez The Boss simply found another gear and scooted clear of his rivals.
However Ideal Whisper refused to give in and kept giving chase down the
home straight while Ignite the Furnace who was stuck from the middle
stages staged an incredible performance to finish third behind Hez The
Boss and Ideal Whisper who also was very brave in his gallant second.
Trained by Colin Brown Hez The Boss has stamped himself as the
State’s leading two year old gelding and will be prominent in the
forthcoming feature youngsters classics.
For Hall Jnr, it was his 72nd Group 1 success.
He commented on Hez The Boss
He’s a funny horse from behind he can pull out
and travel really good but in front I didn’t think he had much left at
the 500 metres, I give him a flick and there wasn’t much there and then
he pricked his ears on me and I thought hey you little mongrel.
Just a credit to Brownie (Colin Brown) and the team he turns
him out. I’ve had the same horse every time I’ve sat behind him. And
he’s just done the job every time. So I know he’s a lovely horse to
drive. I know he’s given Colin a few headaches at home but he seems to
come here and know what its all about which is a very good trait.
It proved to be another successful night for Hall Jnr as later on he
scored with the much improved Luvbite (Betting Line) in the
Discretionary Standing Start and then with Scooter B (Bettors Delight)
in the second last event to earn a driving treble.
