300 for Poutama

It was a dead heat, but the shared win by Leo Lincoln (Art Major) at Cambridge last night (Aug. 10) was enough to give northern harness racing horseman Andre Poutama his 300^th winning drive.

“Not bad for a guy that’s come out of the Manawatu” he said.

In his early days Poutama worked for Greyhound trainer Lisa Cole but harness racing was also in the picture.

“I was doing the dogs and the horses at one point. I got into the dogs when I was about eight through Craig Roberts.”

Poutama’s uncle, trainer Stephen Doody was a major influence in his early introduction to harness racing.

“Stephen and Allan Brown taught me how to use a watch which is a bit difficult when you’re first starting. Jaz Tanner (trainer) helped as well. She was training at Palmy at the time. I had to go down to Christchurch and Greg Payne’s to do my trials license because there were no trials up here.”

He was brought up around horses and these included Blossom Lady, (Farm Timer) one of this country’s finest mares.

Blossom Lady was raced by the Polly Syndicate and she won forty three races – the first six for Stephen Doody. She went to Derek Jones and ultimately won more than $1.3 million.

Poutama has been driving since the 2011 season. His first winner was Red Styx (Badlands Hanover) for his uncle, at Manawatu in March 2011.

He drove ninety eight winners as a junior. His best season to date has been 2019 with thirty eight winning drives.

“It’s always hard to go from the juniors to the seniors so I was a wee bit worried. I’ve had a lot of support from my wife (Amy) who helps work our own.”

Poutama has had his trainer’s license for six years and has trained twenty six winners. He’s had most success with Smokinhotcheddar (Betterthancheddar) four wins, and Takenoprisoners (Monarchy) three.

Mornings are dedicated to Lincoln Farms and his own team of around six are worked in the afternoons out of the neighbouring barn.

A career highlight was winning the 2014 Australian Junior Drivers Championship held in New South Wales.

“I’d never experienced anything like it before. I hadn’t driven in a lot of places in the younger days.”

Jo’s Dream (Gotta Go Cullect) earned him his highest stakes win when she deadheated with Partyon (Bettor’s Delight) In the 2017 Group One Queen Of Hearts.

At Cambridge in August of 2016 he reached his first 100.

“I remember when I got my one hundredth winner. I was sitting on 98 and I drove three winners that night, the first three legs of Pick Six. It didn’t take long for that one.”

He’s driven forty six winners for Stephen Doody, twenty three for Ray Green, twenty for himself, eighteen for Ross Paynter and thirteen for Steve Telfer.

300 ain’t bad for the boy from Palmy.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink