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Former Mackay trainer Olivia Cairns celebrated her biggest win since moving to Beaudesert nine months ago when Fire King claimed the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben on Saturday.
Former Mackay trainer Olivia Cairns celebrated her biggest win since moving to Beaudesert nine months ago when Fire King claimed the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben on Saturday.v
Fire King, ridden by Adam Sewell, powered home for a dominant win over Pat Webster-trained Office Jim .
Dubbed the "Queen Of The North" following a string of feature Cup successes in North Queensland, Cairns moved to Beaudesert to take up a new challenge in the state's South East in February and has 20 horses in work.
She has a number of highlights in her career including a Townsville trainers' premiership a few seasons ago as well as winning the Cleveland Bay (twice) and Townsville Cup.
The tyranny of distance faced by many country trainers in North Queensland prompted her decision to look for a new challenge and move south.
Cairns won the inaugural Battle Of The Bush Final with Mason's Chance in 2018 and won it for a second time last year with Ammoudi Bay .
Cairns has always had a good opinion of Fire King who is a half-brother to her former stable star Last Chance.
"He was passed in at the Magic Millions and Rockhampton sales but we managed to get him for $33,000," Cairns said.
"I ride him in all his work and I thought he was a great chance."
It's been a great investment as Fire King has now earned more than $432,000 in prize money with 11 wins from 47 starts.
Cairns is a former jockey before her riding career ended following an horrific fall at Cluden Park.
Meanwhile, jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor continued his love affair with Racing Queensland's country features by claiming the Country Stampede Final on Toowoomba mare Mahbaby .
Wilson-Taylor won the Battle Of The Bush Final aboard the Craig-Smith trained Art By Concorde at Eagle Farm in June.
Mahbaby was the second pick for co-trainer Corey Geran, who trains in partnership with his mother Kylie, with the pair preferring stable mate Jack Be Lucky, who finished seventh.
Corey's father, Gary Geran , chose to ride Jack Be Lucky who was shooting for his fourth straight win.
"We've got a mixture of horses in the stable and a lot of loyal owners," Corey said.
"It's pretty special to win this but we've put a long of work into her and its very rewarding.
"Mahbaby only ran third in the qualifier but it was enough to get her into the Final.
"I always rated Jack Be Lucky the better chance but when he drew 23 it was always going to be pretty tough for him."
Corey was confident Mahbaby would run a big race once she gained a start after scrapping into the Final from second emergency.
"I rated this mare a good chance once she got a run," Corey said.
"I said to Kyle before the race she wasn't the worst chance and they would go crazy mad in front and she'd stalk them and had a super finish.
"So much work goes into getting horses into the Final and it's a great thrill."
