But, it's not the case for Cairns-trained Our Chiquilla, who lines up for start number 67 in the Open Handicap at Innisfail on Saturday.

Trained by Scott Cooper, Our Chiquilla takes on a small field of five starters in the 1200 metre Open event, including recent Atherton winner Narda Shar.

Our Chiquilla has been racing consistently, missing a place only once in seven starts over the past four months.

The daughter of Chilean sire Host, Our Chiquilla won over 1400 metres at Atherton in October before stringing together three straight placings at Innisfail and Cairns.

In her latest appearance, she finished a game fourth to the Sharlee Hoffman-trained Call Me Mo in a 1250 metre Benchmark race at Cannon Park on November 24.

"One of her owners, Don Martin, bought her off Maryanne Brosnan at the Gold Coast and he's not a breeder and just wants to see her race," Cooper said.

"She might be nine but she's enjoying racing again after since she fell over in the paddock and slightly fractured her front leg which required surgery.

"She had a few months off after the surgery but since she's been back her form has been very consistent."

Our Chiquilla started her career in Victoria with Darren Weir before being moved on to Brosnan, where she placed once in three starts.

Martin, a finance broker in Cairns, bought her to race in Far North Queensland and she's been a five-time winner since making her debut for Cooper in August, 2020.

Cooper is a farrier by trade and has a team of six horses in work in Cairns.

He was a former jockey in Victoria, winning a few city races as well as an Albury Cup, before quitting in 2002 because of weight problems.

"I came here to try out Cairns when Leon Morton asked me to ride a few for him in 1997 and rode a couple of winners," Cooper said.

"But, one day I was kicked by a horse and broke my shin bone so I went back to Victoria to ride.

"I did some factory work in Victoria when I went back there riding but I ended up a border line diabetic from all the wasting, so my wife and I decided to go back to Cairns about 15 years ago.

"I've been training here now for about 11 years and I still do farrier work.

"On her form Our Chiquilla should be hard to beat.

"Narda Shar is the one to beat but we've beaten him in the past and there's a chance it might be a wet track which suits us."