Poutama on the mend after crash at Cambridge

Driver Andre Poutama is expected to be discharged from hospital today after an incident-packed race four at Cambridge last night.

The Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace was stopped by stewards after Poutama's horse Dreams Of Eric shied and broke shortly after the start and fell onto the track.

Three horses were severely checked - Irish Whispers, Nelson's Boy and Franco Miki - with David Butcher being tipped from the sulky. He was examined by medical staff on course and cleared of any injury.

Poutama however was taken to Waikato Hospital. Tests have since revealed a broken rib. While he is feeling sore this morning he is reportedly in good spirits and will be heading home today.

After being inspected by the vets two horses were cleared to start in the re-run race while Franco Miki and Dreams Of Eric were scratched after suffering minor abrasions. They should both be back at the races soon.

Version two of the race was won by Always B Charlie ahead of the favourite Irish Whispers.

Always B Charlie overcomes adversity to claim third win  

By Jordyn Bublitz 

After nearly four months away from the track and a career filled with setbacks, Always B Charlie made a triumphant return to racing at Cambridge Raceway last night, storming home to take out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace for trainer Jason Teaz.

Trained in Ohaupo by Teaz, Always B Charlie has had anything but a straightforward path to the races. His career has been a stop-start journey, hampered by a string of injuries that kept him sidelined for just over two years.

“He broke a pastern as a yearling, then he did a tendon as a two-year-old, and then did a suspensory after a couple of starts. He’s had it all,” said Teaz. “During his time out, he managed to hop the fence and knock up a trotting mare.”

Teaz took on the stallion as a favour to longtime owner Bill Hickey.

“I’ve always done a few for Bill,” Teaz explained. “I went to his to pick up some yearlings and he said, ‘well what about Charlie?’. When I went to look at him, I found this old stallion roaming with his mane down to his knees. I said to Bill that we would take him on and get him looked over by a vet and just see how we go.”

With a clean bill of health and a good attitude, Always B Charlie resumed racing in September last year and put in a solid campaign before being given a short freshen-up. However, his return to work this year was again delayed by more soundness issues.

“He came back in and worked up really well, but he came up sore in his feet after he went to the workouts,” said Teaz. “That’s been the latest hold-up. So even though he hasn’t raced for nearly four months, he only had three weeks off.”

Heading into last night’s race, Teaz was unsure. 

“After the trials he had I was very confident that he was ready to win, but with the recent issues he’s had and the draw he got I wasn’t so sure heading into it. We decided to roll the dice and have a go.”

Driven perfectly by Peter Ferguson, Always B Charlie settled four back on the pegs before moving into the one-one with 800m to go. He peeled out turning for home and surged down the outside to win by a length. It was his third win in 18 starts.

“When Peter’s on there’s no one else you want on,” said Teaz. “He drove him beautifully. As soon as he got onto the back of Irish Whispers, I thought he’d be pretty tough to beat.”