3 minute read

Paul Licciardello had been in for the long haul with galloper Bold Kingston and he was not ready to give up just yet.

The Ayr-based owner had a share in the son of Your Song since he was just a yearling and stuck with him through a few different trainers as he travelled far and wide across the Sunshine State trying to win races.

And, when the decision was floated to retire the then seven-year-old earlier this year, some thought the out-of-form galloper had run his last race.

Licciardello was having none of that.

Fast forward to just six months down the road and Bold Kingston is rated as a leading hope to claim a $200,000 race at Doomben this Saturday afternoon.

The husband and wife training team of Aidan and Georgie Holt at Townsville have completely turned around the fortunes of the almost retired gelding.

"Paul loves the horse like he is his own son, he could not bear the thought of not giving him one more chance at another stable, so he got in contact with us," Aidan recalls.

"Paul was very good from the start, he was open minded that if the horse did not want to race any more, he would be happy to retire him.

"He is now very happy he did make that decision as well as making the call to send the horse to us."

The turnaround in results for the veteran gelding has been stunning under the guidance of the Holts.

Aidan says Bold Kingston did not have any major issues when he was almost retired, he just had some general wear and tear that comes with being an older horse.

He did not win in his last 11 for his former trainer, with retirement floated in late April of this year.

That did not last long as he won first-up for the Holt stable in June of 2022.

He has gone on to win half a dozen more times since, including putting four in a line through September and October.

"From the first gallop with him, we knew he still had the bug to race," Aidan said.

"He gave me a great feel in his first go for our stable, he was determined and competitive, he wanted to still be in a racing environment.

"The rest is history now as he has done a great job for us, winning seven races, which is quite an achievement for any horse to do, but for him to do it at as an eight-year-old – it is a huge effort."

The loyal Licciardello owns a quarter of the Country Cups Challenge Finalist and when the decision was made that he may retire earlier this year, he needed to find other owners to take on the other three quarters.

A conversation with a few of his mates down the local pub in the Burdekin area of North Queensland sorted that out and he was quickly all sold.

Many of Bold Kingston's new connections are first-time owners in the racing industry and are grinning from ear to ear after winning seven races in just over six months.

It was fitting that their galloper would qualify for the Final through the Home Hill heat in late October.

The Holt stable have been regulars in regional racing series' in recent years, twice qualifying for the Battle of the Bush Final with Hit Snooze, but have headed back up the Bruce Highway without much luck on both occasions.

Aidan – a former Brisbane based jockey before relocating to Townsville – believes Bold Kingston is the team's best chance yet to snare a big Final in the city.

"There is the first time we have drawn a single digit barrier," he said with a laugh.

Aidan still takes the odd heavyweight ride every now and again, but mostly these days focuses in on running the Holt stable instead of getting his weight down to chase rides. 

With the Country Stampede Final to also be held on Saturday at Doomben, Georgie loves the comradery that all the bush trainers have together on race day.

"My favourite part of the whole thing is the owners have their own room and you're not in there as competitors," Georgie said.

"Everyone comes together and is happy for each other because we all know what it takes to get there.

"It's like we're one team, us country people, that have ventured into the city and that's a great feeling.

"And, these owners, we've got a couple of young guys who bought into the horse after he almost retired and it's their first horse and they think this racehorse game is easy.

"Now they're telling all their mates and they want to get into the races now.

"It's such a big thing for so many people that don't often get this opportunity."

Bold Kingston made his way down on a truck to Brisbane last week and Aidan flew down on Wednesday afternoon, taking the veteran through his paces on Thursday morning at Corbould Park.

He has been stabled with young Sunshine Coast trainer James Healy – who Aidan previously worked in another stable with - since arriving in South East Queensland.

Healy worked Bold Kingston on the grass at Caloundra on Tuesday.

"I have been friends with Aidan and Georgie for a fair while and they sent Hit Snooze down for the Battle of the Bush Final over the last couple of years," Healy said.

"It is good that we have that trust together and one day hopefully I can send one up to them in Townsville.

"It is a good sort of race for him, Aidan and Georgie has done a tremendous job with him and I imagine he will go close on Saturday."

As of Friday morning, the TAB has Bold Kingston listed as a $10 chance to claim Saturday's Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben.