Maria Potiris eyes Townsville Amateur Cup win

By Glenn Davis

Young trainer Maria Potiris is hopeful she can claim the biggest win of her career in the Townsville Amateur Cup at Cluden Park on Sunday.

Potiris saddles Play Me Now in the 1609 metre feature. 

“I’d love to win the Townsville Amateur Cup,” Potiris said.

The eight-year-old Play Me Now started his career in Victoria before moving to the Potiris stable in 2021.

The son of Bernardini has won twice since arriving at the Innisfail stable and is coming off a last start second to the Michael Morrison-trained Vivenzo in the 2000 metre Innisfail Cup on October 21.

The Innisfail Cup was also a qualifying race for the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben next month.

“My only real concern with him is dropping back from 2000 to 1600 metres,” Potiris said.

“Lacey Morrison is riding him and she knows him well having won twice on him.

“I won’t have to give her any instructions how to ride him. It’s a hard race with a lot of chances but I’m confident he’ll be competitive.”

Play Me Now has been with the Potiris family most of the time in North Queensland except when he was sent to Rockhampton’s Clinton Taylor for a Townsville Cup campaign this year.

“His owners sent him to Clinton for the Townsville Cup but he only had four runs for him before he came back after not measuring up in the Townsville Cup,” Maria said.

“My biggest win was in the Magic Millions Up and Coming series race with Super Rose and I won the Atherton Cup with Play Me Now a few months ago.

“If I can win this it would be my biggest win.”

Potiris is one of three female trainers hoping to claim the Townsville Amateur Cup.

It could well be an all-female finish with Townsville’s Georgie Holt saddling last-start winner Ciao Bicky while Maree Young has Higher Love lining up.