Young trainer facing decision dilemma

By Garry Dell

Youthful Innisfail trainer Maria Potiris is facing a decision most country trainers would gladly have after her consistent five-year-old gelding Secret Location scored a convincing victory in the 2024 Atherton Cup on Saturday.

The Cup was a Country Cups Challenge qualifier with the winner eligible for the rich $200,000 Final at Doomben in November.

But, Potiris is facing a number of challenges as to whether she should continue along that path or settle for her original plans of winning her three "hometown" Cups and looking towards next year's northern Cups treble of Townsville, Cairns and Cairns Amateurs with her former Victorian galloper.

Secret Location, bought by the Potiris family from the yard of Patrick Payne, gave the trainer back-to-back wins in the Atherton Cup after having won last year's event with Play Me Now.

"I have to weigh up the several options," Potiris said.

"First of all, I have to see how the horse pulls up and my immediate aim is the Innisfail Cup in a fortnight.

"I would like for him to pull off the treble but at the same time we have to consider the big money available in Doomben in the Final of the Cups Challenge.

"He's a family horse so there's a fair bit of input as to where we go and the best options. We're convinced he is a big tough stayer and don't know whether he would be at his best over the 1600 metres at Doomben.

"There's the travelling aspect to consider and where he would be stabled if we decided to go to Brisbane. At the moment we're basking in the glory of winning these local Cups and looking forward to what would best suit the horse.

"Not that we wouldn't like to win a big race in Brisbane with him."

Apprentice jockey Tyler Leslight showed aplomb in his ride on Secret Location, settling him back in the small field and making a sustained run from the 400 metres.

Secret Location gave Leslight the second leg of a winning double following on from his treble at the Mareeba Cup meeting a fortnight ago.

The Atherton Cup was one of four Country Cups Challenge qualifiers on Saturday.

Trainer Bevan Johnson completed the Spring Cup and Country Stampede sprint double at Mount Isa with nine-year-old Stampede Warrior and Han Dynasty respectively with apprentice Bella Youngberry in the saddle on both.

Trainer Raymond Williams won the Longreach Cup with the consistent Echo Point ridden by Paul Hamblin.

Echo Point defeated Burdekin from the travelling troop of Scone trainer Brett Cavanough to spoil the travellers' hopes of a quartet at the meeting.

The stable saddled up three winners ridden by Kelsey Lenton, including the star of the team The Hanger Cat. 

Toowoomba's Skyforger, trained by Pat Webster, won the Taroom qualifier.