Cairns issues warning as Googaz strives to end run of placings

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Olivia Cairns is hopeful it will be a case of déjà vu for Googaz when the gelding strives to end a string of three consecutive placings at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday.

The five-year-old has been placed in all three starts during his current campaign and will be ridden by Ryan Maloney in the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1800 metres.

The son of Husson has started 28 times for four wins and nine placings and is coming off a last start third in a 1660 metre Class 5 Handicap at Doomben on July 31.

Cairns has no concerns with Googaz extending in distance to 1800 metres as he won over the trip on a heavy track at the Sunshine Coast in January.

In another start at the Sunshine Coast, Googaz finished second in a 2200 metre Benchmark race in February.

“He’s a big gangly horse and he races well at the Sunshine Coast as he likes the big track,” Cairns said.

Googaz was bred by Bradley and Melonie Bates, who also share in the ownership of Fire King and Ammoudi Bay.

Ammoudi Bay gave Cairns her second Battle Of The Bush Final winner in 2022.

“His owners come from Bowen and I raised him in Mackay when they sent him to me straight after he was weaned,” Cairns said.

“He should run a good race again but he might be a run short of his best.”

Cairns believes Googaz is just starting to fulfil his potential and believes he’s up to winning a metropolitan race in Brisbane.

“He’s a genuine stayer and I don’t think we’ll see the best of him for another 12 months,” Cairns said.

“His owners would love to see him race up north so we might look at the northern carnival with him next year.

“We considered sending him up this year but we weren’t sure about him getting a run.

“Next year he might make a Cups horse if he can win a race in town this campaign.”

Cairns, who now trains at Beaudesert, spent more than two decades in the north of the state. 

“I’ve won most of the Cup races up north including the Townsville Cup with Forest Pride (in 2003) but I’ve never won the Mackay Cup,” she said.