Explorer Set to Rediscover Best Form

Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham is banking on a quick back-up to land an overdue win with mercurial galloper Silent Explorer at Cluden Park tomorrow.

The six-year-old gelding indicated he was close to his best with a narrow second to Love Is Blind in the MM Country Cup Qualifier at Cluden last Tuesday.

Massingham is confident the son of Lope de Vega will handle the quick turnaround in the Happy New Year Open Hcp (1400m) and go close to ending a 17 month winning drought.

“I’m really happy with him. He pulled up good after last week and I think he’ll be a strong chance,” Massingham said.

“I’ve always had a good a opinion of him. He had an issue last prep when he suffered an injury with some wire under his knee and that set him back a bit.

“But he’s improved each run this time in as he’s got fitter and his run last week was very good.

“He can still lay in a bit so we had the blinkers back on and he went straight. I didn’t think he’d go as close as he did.

“We’ve drawn a good gate (3), 55kg and the 1400m will be no worries for him.

“He could lead if he wanted to but I think he’s better with a bunny to chase.”Silent Explorer has been tough on punters, starting favourite or second pick in markets at 11 of his 12 starts in the north and landing two wins.

His last win was at Cluden over tomorrow’s distance in a Class 6 in August 2020.

Last week he started at double figure odds and turned in a slashing run to go down by a half-length.

But don’t expect those odds for tomorrow’s assignment.

Regular stable jockey Nathan Day has been booked for the ride in a field that includes top weight Langhro (62.5kg), western galloper Loud Enough and the Tom Button-trained The Tax Accountant fresh from Brisbane.

Tomorrow’s end of year race meeting kicks off with the first at 1.36pm and the last of seven races at 5.07pm.

Pictured: Silent Explorer (Black Cap) fights out the finish with Love Is Blind in the MM Country Cup Qualifier. Silent Explorer will line up one of the main fancies tomorrow in the New Years Open Hcp (1400m).

See the racing calendar for upcoming race day