By Jordyn Bublitz
It was a great night at the office for trainer-driver Andre Poutama at Cambridge yesterday, with the promise of more to come at Auckland on Friday night.
The northern reinsman won three on the bounce last night, starting in race 5, the Off the Track Food and Bev Mobile Pace when he led all the way with his own runner Desert Dawn to win by a commanding three lengths.
“He’s been going good he’s just had bad draws, I put the blinds on him because he drew one and I knew that would work to get him off the gate,” he said.
“For him to kick away like he did was great and it’s the wife’s horse as well so I’m in the good books.”
He also aided Hunterville trainer Scott Dickson in securing a double, winning Race 6, the Hire A Venue at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace with Dixieland Delight and then piloting Trippy Tyron to victory in Race 7, the NZMCA Parking at Cambridge Raceway Handicap Trot.
Dixieland Delight was three back the fence throughout his race and was last at the 400 metre mark before getting the perfect split up the passing lane to win by a length while Trippy Tyron made short work of his 30 metre handicap to settle in fourth place before Poutama made his move turning for home. He overhauled the favourite Stash The Cash to win by more than two lengths.
“He (Dickson) only brought them up because he was disappointed with their runs at Manawatu, so it felt good to get the chocolates,” said Poutama.
Poutama is hopeful his good fortune will carry over to Friday night’s premier meeting at Alexandra Park where he has a nice book of drives.
In Race 1, “The Alex” The Place to Celebrate Mother’s Day Mobile Pace he will take the reins of the Greg Shirley-trained Words ($3.50 FF) who has made a promising start to her career, amassing three wins and one second since her first start in January.
“She’s been going great – she went good last start considering it was her first run in six weeks.”
He is also looking forward to his own filly Miss Kawaii ($51FF) racing in the Group 3 IRT Young Guns 2YO Trotters Final.
“I’m just happy with her getting around the whole way, she’s not very big but hopefully she gets everything right and we can get a bit of the money.”
“She’ll go out on a spell after Friday night.”
Poutama also takes the reins behind Johnny Trotter ($91 FF) for Robert and Jenna Dunn in the Group 1 IRT NZ Sires Stakes 3YO Trotters Championship and has picked up the drive on the Mark and Nathan Purdon runner Without You ($21 FF) in the Group 1 Magness Benrow NZ Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Final.
