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Young FNQ trainer doesn't do things by half

2 September 2024

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Trainer Maria Potiris with the Mareeba Cup. Pictures: Peter Roy.

By Garry Dell

Trainer Maria Potiris doesn't believe in doing things by half and backed up her philosophy with a feature double on Saturday.

Potiris won the sprint Bracelet with Southern Front and backed up with Secret Location to give her not only her first double at the track but also her first Mareeba Cup.

The 34-year-old Potiris has had her training licence since the 2019-20 season and has been around horses for almost all of her life.

"I was a stable hand virtually all of my life since a teenager and took out my own licence," Potiris said.

"We had about 16 horses in work but I've trimmed the stable down a fair bit and at the moment I've only got five in work.

"But, they are going really well at the moment and things are looking really good for the coming weeks."

Southern Front and Secret Location were online auction buys from Victoria.

Potiris has plans to tackle the Atherton Cup late in September with hopes of gaining entry into the Country Cups Challenge Final. 

"He's already won two races in the Rob Koch memorial series and it would be the cherry on the cake if he could win at Atherton and qualify for the Final in Brisbane," Potiris said.

"My partner and fellow trainer Dean Piccolo gives me a lot of helpful advice as well as my mum and sister, they are also involved in the business and ownership of most of my horses. It's a real family show."

Both of Potiris' winners on Saturday were ridden by apprentice Tyler Leslight who is taking great strides since moving to the region a few months ago and is making his mark on the local scene.

Potiris heaped praise on Leslight for "perfect" rides on the pair.

Leslight rode half of the program with a treble.

He shared the riding honours with senior jockey Nathan Day who rode the other three winners.

One of Day's winners was for Louise Terzi who was a stable hand and assistant trainer for champion Atherton Tablelands trainer Roy Chillemi.