Big team lines up for trainer Olivia Cairns in Mackay

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Olivia Cairns will be looking to continue her stable’s good fortunes with a big team of ten acceptors on her home turf at Mackay on Tuesday.

Cairns is affectionately known as the “Queen Of The North” due to her many feature race wins in Central and North Queensland during her career.

She’s won a host of carnival races in the north including the Cleveland Bay on two occasions and a Townsville Cup but she has never won her hometown Mackay Cup.

Cairns is again having another outstanding TAB Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival this year with Fire King claiming the Magic Millions Daintree Guineas in Cairns last Saturday.

She also finished third with Arctic Wolf and fourth with Planet Warrior in Saturday’s Cairns Cup while Brisbane’s Battle Of The Bush winner Ammoudi Bay also placed in the Mackay Newmarket in July.

While Cairns has accepted with ten runners at Mackay, it’s well short of her team's record.

“I’ve accepted with ten runners on Mackay but I’ve had as many as 14 starters in past years,” Cairns said.

“We’re having another good winter and have featured in several of the main races.

“The stable is going well with Ammoudi Bay winning the Battle Of The Bush in Brisbane but I’ve still yet to win the Mackay Cup.

“Fire King did a good job to win the Guineas on Saturday while Arctic Wolf ran third in the Cairns Cup and Planet Warrior finished fourth last Saturday.

“Both Arctic Warrior and Planet Warrior will be going back for the Cairns Amateurs.”

Cairns will have two runners in the Open Handicap over 1560 metres but is not overly optimistic of Mason’s Chance and Quidni’s hopes.

Mason’s Chance is coming off a last start sixth to the Tim Cook-trained Brad in a 1300 metre Open event at Mackay on August 23 while Quidni finished fifth, just ahead of his stable mate in the same race.

“Quidni’s run wasn’t too bad run last time and this looks to be his best distance,” Cairns said.

“I’m looking for him to improve but it’s a difficult race.

“Mason’s Chance is probably in the same boat and is looking for the longer trip and is probably an each-way chance.”

Mason’s Chance will be looking to break a 12 month losing streak since his last win at Emerald in September last year.

Cairns has given punters a lead after selecting Arctic Wolf as the pick of her big team in the Class 4 Handicap over 1800 metres following his Cairns Cup- placing.