High-flying Poutama heading to Alexandra Park tonight

By Michael Guerin

Andre Poutama is half way to his own personal Mission Impossible.

And even if the leading North Island driver for this season doesn’t get there he may reach a more personal goal before the end of 2026.

The 34-year-old reinsman can barely believe his season so far, his 50 wins putting him 10 clear of Crystal Hackett among northern drivers and fourth on the national premiership. 

That is some leap for a horseman whose previous career best was 59 wins in a year, which came just last season, and before that a 38-win season.

“It has been pretty incredible and I am pinching myself a bit how it has all gone,” says Poutama.

“I am getting such great support from the best trainers.
 
“This Friday I am driving for Barry and Scotty, John Dickie, Lincoln Farms and Arna [Donnelly). I feel very lucky.”

With the season going so well and so consistently Poutama realises it is not impossible to reach 100 wins for the year, especially as he intends driving at every North Island meeting he can.

“100 wins would be crazy but it is not actually the main goal any more,” he explains.

“When things starting going well at the start of the season I thought I’d aim at winning the northern premiership and now I suppose the 100 is a possible target.

“But I am on 458 New Zealand career wins so need 42 more to get to my 500 here and that would mean a lot.

“So if I can do that, which would meant getting to 92 wins for the season, I’d be thrilled with that.”

Poutama gets a special thrill out of donning the famous Barry Purdon colours as he will behind Fly High in tonight’s Woodlands Stud Silk Road Final at Alexandra Park but he has one warning for punters.

“She is a lovely filly and I think the reason she was beaten by Ride The Waves last start was this filly isn’t really a leader,” he explains.

“I ended up parked and just couldn’t help myself so pressed on to the front and Ride The Waves was too good for us but I won’t be leading on Fly High this Friday  and I think she will go better.”

Poutama definitely won’t be leading on Little Spike (R9, No.7) in tonight’s pacing handicap as he faces a 30m handicap over 2200m but that may not be his biggest issue.

“We are back there with American Me and he begins so fast he could get in front of us and maybe get field position on us,” says Poutama.

“Little Spike can still win but it could be tricky if he ends up having to chase American Me.”

Poutama will partner two John Dickie-trained trotters in Paramount Spur (R6) and Donegal Hill (R8) and while both have plenty to learn they can win, albeit Paramount Spur is up against a future open class trotter in Illicit Love (R6, No.2) who should win if he races up to his best form.

Poutama also drives the highly-talented but often distracted Sammy Lincoln in Race 3, a race he is good enough to win if he concentrates.

“He has plenty of ability but he just looks at everything. I drove him at the workouts the other day and the motor is big but he has a lot to learn.”