St John Eight too good at Cambridge

By Jordyn Bublitz

There was no catching St John Eight last night at Cambridge Raceway, with the Andre Poutama-trained runner taking out the TFS Horse Transport Mobile Pace—claiming his third win in seven starts and doing it in commanding fashion.
 
From barrier five, the gelded son of Always B Miki burned early to take the lead, and Poutama said he knew he had the race won the moment he hit the top.
 
“As soon as I got to the top, I knew I had them beat,” said the Pukekohe reinsman. “Whenever they come for him, he just always seems to find more and more.”
 
And find more he did—facing early pressure for the lead and still having the grit to pull away from his rivals in the straight to score by a domineering three-length margin.
 
Although he got things wrong last start at Alexandra Park, Poutama was confident in the gelding’s chances heading into last night’s race.
 
“He galloped last start at Auckland, but he doesn’t really go right-handed, and he just got onto a knee on that last bend. I was hopeful for him heading into last night—I knew he’d be near enough.”
 
Poutama is also looking forward to his sole runner lining up at Alexandra Park on Friday night—Eyeliner, who will contest the Magness Broadcast – End of an Era at Alex Park Mobile Pace (9:24 p.m.)
 
The four-year-old daughter of Lazarus is having her second start back this campaign, and he’s positive she will have derived benefit from her fresh-up run at Cambridge Raceway.
 
“She’d had no trials heading into her last start, and I was pretty happy with the way she went. She was always going to blow out fresh-up, and she’ll only improve,” he said. “We’ll probably drop straight onto the fence on Friday and hopefully trail the trip. If she finds the line well and we can get a bit of the money, I’ll be happy.”