I once read somewhere that your first winner as a racehorse owner is up there with war and sex. I don’t think either was on the mind of Lady Colleen Glaeser as she dropped the lead rope like a hot potato after Amor Ardiente entered the winner’s circle at Scottsville yesterday – not necessary out of excitement. “I’m terrified of horses!”
Belinda Impey’s 25-1 shot was met by a few mutterings from punters as the son of Antonious Pius out-pointed favourite Drauglin but it was a win full of merit. Visiting rider Gunter Wrogemann, down to ride at Scottsville mainly at the behest of Louis Goosen, was also impressed. “He’ll easily get eight to 10 furlongs,” he surmised.
Amor Ardiente (Candiese Marnewick)
Amor Ardiente certainly enjoyed going around the turn for the first time and as hard as Draugluin tried, he was unable to peg back the winner.
It was all rosie for punters in the first as Zen Arcade landed the odds for Louis Goosen and Wrogemann. The diminutive but well put together son of Ideal World was hardly off the bit as he landed the odds. Up with the pace throughout he had the opposition of the bit and running around like headless chickens as they tried to close the gap. “They breed them tough at Mauritzfontein,” said the Ashburton trainer. “I’ve had to stomp on him a bit but he’s taken it all.”
Dennis Bosch arrived on track decked out in a tie in spite of the sweltering spring weather, a sure indication that he is expecting a winner. Although Laters Baby was probably not the stable elect on the afternoon, she outdid her more strongly fancied stable companion Got Your Back, keeping going under Anthony Delpech to hold favourite Coral Queen in the Track & Ball Gaming Maiden.
It was a quick one-two for Mario Ferreira who’s colours were also carried by Zen Arcade.
Blake and Cathy Richard have had a lot of success with some modestly priced horses but they also have patience. Queens Diamond showed marked improvement when tried in blinkers on the Greyville poly and followed up with an end-to-end success in the third. Keen on the way to the start, she took off from the gate and the opposition would have needed a spy-glass as she bolted some 15 lengths clear.
“She got away from me,” admitted Brandon Lerena, replacement for Keagan de Melo (missed flight). “But that allowed me to sit a bit longer in the straight.” Lerena gave his mount a clear breather in the straight and then kept the mare going to cause major damage to the Pick 6 with hot favourite Got You Back unable to reel in the runaway winner.
“I think blinkers made all the difference,” said Mark Dixon. “She did well on the poly and I think the firm ground will also have suited her. If she hadn’t featured here we could always have gone back to the poly.”
By Andrew Harrison
