Trainer Olivia Cairns chasing Eagle Farm win with promising two-year-old Nottington Prince

He turned heads when second in a QTIS two-year-old handicap last start and now Olivia Cairns’ promising gelding Nottington Prince is returning to Eagle Farm with victory on his mind.

He turned heads when second in a QTIS two-year-old handicap last start and now Olivia Cairns’ promising gelding Nottington Prince is returning to Eagle Farm with victory on his mind.

By unheralded sire Whittington, Nottington Prince was friendless in the betting in the Racecourse Village Handicap at Eagle Farm on February 15 but belied his $14 starting price when fighting hard for second, less than a length from winner Love To Torque and ahead of odds-on pop Atomic Time.

Cairns, who has only 19 horses in work at her Beaudesert base, said she wasn’t surprised by Nottington Prince’s strong performance – if anything, it only confirmed her high opinion of the two-year-old.

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“I’ve always had a fairly decent opinion of him, but he’s not a horse bred in the blackbook,” Cairns said.

“He’s bred by an unknown sire out of a mare who’s had one city winner so you don’t initially expect them to amount to anything great but you never know until you try.

“He’s a horse that’s always had the right attitude, just a very cool, calm and collected customer.”

Nottington Prince opened his career with a four-length fourth in a maiden plate at Ipswich on February 5 and has continued to show positive signs since his recent runner-up performance.

And Cairns – a Mackay native – strongly believes there’s more improvement to come.

Love to win! 🥳

Love To Torque takes the opener for the 2yo's at Eagle Farm!@WilsonTaylor99 | @kendrickracing1 | @BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/F3R6BxISUh

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

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“The improvement he’s shown from trial to trial was very impressive,” Cairns said.

“He won his first at Beaudesert and then we took him to the Gold Coast running a strong third, but he trialled far better horses that day.

“(He) still managed to hold his own, ran a far better time and then his first start was in a midweek metro which I think is a terrific feat for a little country two-year-old.”

While happy to be heading back to town, Cairns revealed that wasn’t the original plan for Nottington Prince.

“Ryan (Maloney) is one of our top Brisbane riders and after riding him he thought he was brilliant,” Cairns revealed.

“He said he was very well-educated, jumped well, did everything right and will win lots of races, but should probably head back to provincial grade.

“However with the way it’s all worked out there aren’t too many two-year-old races out that way so we’re heading back to town.”

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Cairns’ stable star again takes on the likes of Atomic Time and Love To Torque in Saturday’s Stradbroke Season Book Now 2YO Handicap (1300m) and is a $9 chance in betting, with Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan to ride.

Originally published as Trainer Olivia Cairns chasing Eagle Farm win with promising two-year-old Nottington Prince