Cairns horses dominate the carnival opening

Of the seven events, three were won by Cairns-trained runners with two from the Tablelands also successful.

The "visiting" winners came from Charters Towers and Townsville.

Mount Costa ($4.40) took the carnival opener, the Simon George and Sons Maiden (950m) for Charters Towers trainer Ben Williams. They scored from Dutch Rocket and Greyserene.

The well-backed The Grove ($4, Justin Stanley) broke the ice for the locals when he won the Underwood Party Hire Maiden (1250m) by one length over Spacex and Trigger.

Then it was the turn for Mareeba's Lisa Donovan and her five -year-old sprinter Buxton (3.80, Les Tilley), which triumphed in the Cairns Key Real Estate Class 3 (1400m).

Once trained on the Sunshine Coast by Mark Webb for owner Allan Newcombe, Buxton won by three-quarters of a length from Ready For Love and Lord Archer.

The Rodney Miller stable gave Cairns another victory in the Govenors Trophy (1600m) through Via Balciano ($2.50, Robert Thompson) beating Crocodile Shoes ($3.70) and Set The Bar High ($9).

Wanderson D'Avila rode Countess Rock ($11.70) to win the Yellowglen Handicap (950m) for the Sharlee D'Avila stable in Tolga.

Some big bets were landed when Tilley rode a daring race to land the money in the Stella Artois (950m) over Hidden Heaven ($5) and Concluder ($6.90).

The day ended after Townsville mare Grazie Millie Bella ($10.40, Noel Callow) steamed home from near last to win the TAB Class 1 Handicap (1250m), beating Sfilza ($7.30) and Narda Shar ($16).