I’m Not Sure springs surprise in Mareeba
STEPHEN Potiris has found his country cups horse for 2019 with I’m Not Sure even surprising the Innisfail trainer with how quickly the gelding has taken to staying races.
The seven-year-old went up to 2000m for the first time in his 56-start career at Ingham last Saturday, with hoop Pietro Romeo encouraged by his performance.
On the quick back-up on Saturday afternoon, the former Paul Snowden-trained gelding pounced late to claim the $10,000 2019 Mareeba Cup (1800m), edging past race favourite Luvya Beak in the final stages.
With the Atherton, Gordonvale and Innisfail cups fast approaching, the Innisfail horseman will send I’m Not Sure in that direction, just as he did with 2018 Gordonvale Cup winner Try Me Dol this time 12 months ago.
Leading north Queensland rider Wanderson D’Avila was able to sit back in the field on I’m Not Sure on Saturday before making his run late, getting his nose down on the line.
“He is only a low-rated horse, mid 50 or something, we will nominate him for the Atherton Cup and see if he gets a run there,” Potiris said.
“We will go around for them cups, if we miss the Atherton Cup, we may look to Townsville, but from then on we will attack Gordonvale and Innisfail.
“He will be an eight-yearold next year but we will probably look to putting him in the Up and Coming Stayers Series after a spell as he does not do a lot of work early and can really stick on and sprint late.”
I’m Not Sure, by Choisir from Crimson Ribbon, ran almost 11 lengths behind the winner in the Ingham Cup but jockey Romeo felt the run was better than what the result showed, leading Potiris to push the gelding on to more staying events.
The gelding’s triumph was the third career Mareeba Cup for Potiris after Jordan won in 2017.
“We have had a bit of luck in the Cup, it has been a good race for us and we like supporting the club,” Potiris said.
D’Avila picked up a winning double at Mareeba on Saturday, piloting Speed Eight for local trainer Kevin Mearns in the Class B Handicap (1210m).
Meanwhile, Gordonvale trainer Dean Piccolo collected his first win since June 2018 with Magnitude Lad taking out the Benchmark 55 Handicap (900m), ridden by Bonnie Thomson.