Stephen’s daughter Maria grew up around the stables and after helping her father out for years, eventually taking out her own licence with the pair having 14 in work between them in 2021.
Maria has four winners to her name so far, as well as juggling full-time work, and says she learnt much of knowledge from Stephen, a stalwart of the FNQ racing industry.
“It is good, it is a little different, but it is great to be a family orientated team,” Maria said.
“We do all the hard work ourselves behind the scenes.
“I am following in Dad’s footsteps now and I hope I can be half as good as him.
“I always stepped back and watched Dad, seeing how he trains his horses and he always helps me.
“We always talk about the horses when we are at home at the dinner table or when I am on my lunch break at work, I will ring him up and ask about the horses.”
Before taking out her own trainers licence just over a year ago, Maria would often look after the team of horses when her father was on holidays or taking a runner to Brisbane.
Stephen always has a strong stayer or two in his barn, with Rocco and Yankee Tango flying the flag for the light blue colours in recent years, before Play Me Now arrived on the scene.
The son of Bernardini ran a massive race in the Townsville Cup earlier this month, beaten a half-length after sitting up on the speed for much of the 2000metre journey.
As Stephen notes, Play Me Now will stay all day – winning up to 2500 metres earlier in his career in Melbourne.
Maria describes Play Me Now as a gentleman around the stables, while Stephen says he is “all class” – both expecting him to run a nice race in Saturday’s Cairns Cup at Cannon Park.
“He did super in the Townsville Cup, the horse has plenty of ability, as being a Moonee Valley winner shows,” Stephen said.
“He has mixed it with some good horses down south.
“I took him to Cairns last week for a little jump-out, just to tick him over, he is coming along good.”
Play Me Now is raced by a group of owners from around North Queensland, including former NQ Cowboys hooker Aaron Payne and other rugby league identities from Townsville.
While she is the newest member of the Potiris team, Guernier will have the final touch of their stable star before he jumps in Saturday’s Cup – a galloper she refers to as a “gentleman” to ride in the mornings.
Guernier also works as the clerk of the course on big race days and says she will give Play Me Now a little pat behind the gates if she gets the opportunity.
“You do get really, really excited for a big race like this but when they are going into the barriers, then you go the other way and get nervous,” Guernier said.
“Your heart starts racing and you are just hoping everything goes well and once they have jumped; you literally hold your breath until he goes over the finish line safely.
“It is amazing.”