Bold Type set to return to form in Townsville

By Glenn Davis

Stephen Massingham will have rival trainer Alex Malliff to partly thank if Bold Type makes a return to winning form at Townsville’s Cluden Park on Friday.

Bold Type and Silent Explorer will be joined by four stable mates from Massingham's team in Cairns for the four-and-a-half hour road trip to Townsville.

Both eight-year-olds - Bold Type and Silent Explorer - are at the beginning of their new campaigns with Bold Type starting for the second time this spring while Silent Explorer has had two starts back.

Massingham’s stable was over flowing with horses during the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival and there wasn’t room for Bold Type when he was ready to return to work.

“I had about 30 horses in work and there’s wasn’t any room for him so I sent him to Alex (Malliff) who pre-trained him for me,” Massingham said.

Bold Type made his racing return at Ewan last month where he finished fifth, beaten less than three lengths, by the John Manzelmann-trained Mister Larrabee in a Country Stampede qualifier over 1000 metres.

“His run at Ewan was very good considering it was his first start in nearly a year,” Massingham said.

“Ryan Wiggins is riding him in Townsville and he should be very competitive.”

Massingham also believes Silent Explorer will race well but gives Bold Type a slight edge.

Silent Explorer beat only one runner home when 11th to the talented Ruby July in an 1100 metre Open Handicap at Innisfail on September 30.

“Silent Explorer was a bit fat for his last run at Innisfail that’s why I’m backing him up,” Massingham said.

“Both will probably go on and run next time in the Johnstone River at Innisfail in a few weeks.”

Silent Explorer won last year's feature Johnstone River for hoop Masayuki Abe who has been booked for Friday's assignment.

While Massingham hopes to run the quinella, he rates the Georgie Holt-trained Bones as the main threat along with Rockhampton flyer Aspen Lad.

“Aspen Lad goes very fast but I think Bones will be the one to beat,” Massingham said.

Bones gave Holt one of her biggest wins of her six-year training career when he claimed the Townsville Lightning in August.

The former Victorian has won five times for Holt and is coming off a dominant last-start win over Ali’s Jab in a 950 metre Open Handicap at Cairns last month.