Olivia Cairns chasing Townsville success

By Glenn Davis

Beaudesert trainer Olivia Cairns is hopeful of a happy homecoming to North Queensland when she launches a two-pronged attack on the $100,000 2YO Classic at Townsville on Saturday.

Cairns made her name in North Queensland before relocating to the state’s South East three years ago.

She has won just about every major country Cup in North and Far North Queensland, including the Townsville, Mackay and Cairns Cups, as well as two Cleveland Bay Handicaps.

She has also claimed Townsville and Mackay trainers’ premierships and was a successful jockey before her riding career ended following a fall at Cluden Park in 1998.

The tyranny of distance was the driving force behind her move to Beaudesert where she leases a training and spelling complex.

Cairns won the inaugural Battle of the Bush with Mason’s Chance in 2018. 

She also claimed the 2022 edition with Ammoudi Bay in Brisbane as well as a Country Cups Challenge Final with Fire King in 2023.

She has taken a team of seven horses north and has based herself in her former hometown of Mackay for a North Queensland campaign.

Cairns is chasing her second win in the 2YO Classic with I’lltellyouanytime and Maganista after claiming the 2005 edition with Sea Zulu.

Jockey Chelsea Jokic has retained the ride on I’lltellyouanytime while Adam Spinks is the new rider for Maganista.

I’lltellyouanytime was bought in New Zealand and is coming off a last start fourth to the Kris Hansen-trained Bowdene in a 1050 metre two-year-old race at Mackay on May 23.

Maganista beat only one home last start over 1200 metres at Townsville two days later.

“One of my owners bought I’lltellyouanytime in New Zealand and he didn’t pay a lot of money for her,” Cairns said.

“He buys a lot of horses from New Zealand and rarely pays more than around $2,000.

“He picks them out on breeding and has bought a couple of good ones in the past.”

Cairns believes I’lltellyouanytime has improved since her latest appearance.

“She’s got good form, but she missed some work because of the trip up when she ran fourth,” Cairns said.

“And, she was second-up after a two-day trip to get here and she was put under a lot of pressure during the race.”

Cairns described the daughter of Wanted as a bulldog compared to her “dainty” stablemate Maganista.

“They’re two different types of horses as Maganista is rather a dainty type compared to I’lltellyouanytime, who is a real bulldog,” Cairns said.

“Maganista drew wide at her last run, so it’s a forget run as far as I’m concerned.”