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

Louis Goosen, now permanently resident at Ashburton, broke the ice at Scottsville on Wednesday when Haddington held off all challengers and the former Vaal-based trainer can add swiftly to that tally with Zen Arcade in the card opener at the same course on Sunday.

The son of Ideal World made his debut in the BSA Million over 1400m and only found one too good for him in the slightly more experienced Broadway Trip out of the Alec Laird yard.

Admittedly, it was not the strongest of fields but there were plenty of runners primed for the R600k first prize so this was a particularly good effort first crack out of the box.

Haddington (Candiese Marnewick)

Of some concern is the drop back to 1200m but any improvement on his debut effort should set him apart from the rest of the raced runners.

Of course, there is always the chance of a ‘springer’ amongst the first timers so it is advisable to keep an eye on the market.

Highveld visitor Gunter Wrogemann has four rides for Goosen and next best from the yard appears to be Flight Mode in the last who appears to finally be getting his act together. He had shown little for most of the year but the addition of a tongue-tie appears to have him back to something like his best when showing much improved pace before fading late over the Vaal 1000m last time out.

All True Man, Risky Rosco and Elegant General have shown enough to be major threats in what is an open affair.

Anthony Delpech has stuck with Got Your Back after two close-up finishes over course and distance in the third and Dennis Bosch’s runner is likely to start at cramped odds and is a possible Pick 6 banker in the opening leg.

Draugluin was an expensive failure when backed into 6-10 for his last start but he was simply out-paced over the last furlong, scraping into third. Dennis Drier stretches him to 1400m on Sunday and the son of Twice Over can make amends.

Opposition includes World Mission, who has the worst of the draw, and Mighty Valdie, who has shown steady improvement for Doug Campbell although his last two outings have been on the poly at Greyville.

Zen Arcade (Candiese Marnewick)

The Soccer 6 Handicap is a typically difficult fillies and mares handicap where Drier holds a fair hand in top weight Russet Roses and Uprise. Both were ridden to victory by apprentice Diego de Gouveia at their last starts and one can reasonably assume that he would have had the choice of mounts, even at the expense if stable rider Sean Veale. Uprise was only a maiden winner but she revelled in the step up in trip and looks capable of following up.

After showing consistent form on the Greyville poly, Iced Up was disappointing when switching to the turf earlier this month. However, that was her second run after a break and can be expected to produce a better performance this time around. Russet Roses, Peggy’s Dream and Yess are others that warrant consideration.

Perfect Jay and Touch Of Magic are likely to dominate the market for the Blinkers Bar Handicap as they look to be a cut above their rivals. Draugluin did not do Perfect Jay’s form any favours when run-over next time out but Dean Kannemeyer’s runner is on the up.

Touch Of Magic takes on males but shed her maiden convincingly on debut and was not far back in a competitive handicap when returning from a break. That run should have brought her on.

There should be precious little between Great Value and Panza in the seventh, Panza finishing just under a length to the good when last they met. Both have run two cracking races since with Ivan van Wyk’s runner having his third run after a well-earned break.

One to watch is Archilles, having his second outing for Goosen and his third run after a break.

By Andrew Harrison

A MR 92 Handicap over 1900m heads a tricky nine race card on the Turffontein Inside track and Amsterdam looks the one to side with.

The six-year-old Windrush gelding finished second to French Navy in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m as a three-year-old and was in good form between May and July this year, running four times and winning two races, both over 2000m. He has pole position and this trip looks ideal, considering he was doing his best work late over 1800m last time. He proved in that last race he is worth his 84 merit rating. Piere Strydom, whose was aboard for both those aforementioned wins, is now back aboard, another plus.

Piere Strydom

Wild Horizon could be the main danger. He is not drawn as well as he was last time when beating Stonehenge by 4,05 lengths over 2000m on the Standside track and he might prefer a more galloping track than this one. However, he did look to have a bit in hand when crossing the line that day, so can beat Stonehenge again, despite being 4kg worse off. Stonehenge is an effective handy-to front-running type who looks perfectly distance suited and Gavin Lerena is aboard. There is little between Stonehenge, Amsterdam and Wild Horizon. Bankable Teddy has a chance if repeating his runs in the Jubilee Handicap and the July consolation race.

Dawn Assault won a Graduation Plate in eyecatching fashion by 8,25 lengths over 1800m last time. Khumalo remains aboard, although they do have a tougher draw. Furthermore, he was weighted to win that race, whereas he is held by Amsterdam on previous form over 2000m, having lost to the latter by 2,2 lengths and now being 1,5kg worse off. Lee’s Pick is 2kg under sufferance according to official merit ratings, but there is not much between him and Amsterdam on their last meeting over 2000m, so he can’t be completely ignored. They are selected in the order mentioned.

Punters could get off to a good start in race one over 1000m with Hampton Court, a R300,000 Var colt who might outclass them. He is a half-brother to the useful speedster Horse Guards and made a good debut in May over this course and distance when finishing third behind two decent sorts and beating another decent sort. The concern is he made a breathing noise and hasn’t run since that debut race in May. The back up is Strikers Boy. He had bad luck in his first two starts, but last time showed what he can do when showing pace throughout over this trip at the Vaal and finishing a 1,5 length second to the hard knocking Wellspring. He is relatively unexposed and was still a touch green in that last start so can improve again.

Punters could be in the pound seats again in race two over 1450m with Ossetra. She caught the eye third time out when staying on for second behind the promising Awaafy and she did not have a lot of room at a crucial stage of that race either. She has a reasonable draw over a step up in trip she should enjoy.

S’manga Khumalo

Vacquero in race three over 1800m could also prove hard to beat, considering his fair debut over 1200m and his good staying on run over 1600m last time. However, Llandudo is no slouch and in his second run after gelding could be a threat from a good draw over a suitable trip.

Bandola is the choice in race four over 2600m. Firstly, she has a good form chance, secondly she is from the yard of the expert trainer of stayers, Weiho Marwing, and thirdly she is by Silvano, so will be improving and will likely relish the trip.

Race six over 1400m is a Pinnacle Stakes event and the classy Shatoosh is the one to side with. Last time she tracked She’s A Dragon over 1600m and the jockey under-estimated the kick and resolute finish the latter would produce and couldn’t catch her. That race proved she would prefer 1600m to this trip, but her class could pull her through.

Spring Indeed could also make amends for her last start in race seven over 1600m. She was continually baulked and just as the gap opened a horse flew up on the outside and she was unable to catch the latter. She was only raised one point and has another plum draw.

The eighth is tough, but Curbstone Shuffle, Cinnamon Slew and Shine Bright make most appeal.

In the last, also over 1600m, Shotgun Rider finished strongly over 1450m last time and is now drawn in pole off a two point higher merit rating. He can beat Nephrite, who goes notably well for Anthony Delpech.

By David Thiselton

Anton Marcus averaged a winner every three rides at Kenilworth last season. Tomorrow the four-time champion has six mounts on his first Cape Town visit of the campaign and at least three have winning chances.

He can start off by scoring on True Words in the first. The Ramsden grey ran well last time. In the first two throughout, he beat all except Strikitlikeamatch who put the issue to bed shortly after halfway but True Words did race on the slower part of the course.

Anton Marcus

Seventh Rule probably represents the main danger although What A Summer returned with blood in his mouth when starting favourite last time and riding arrangements suggest that Fake News is the pick of the four Snaith newcomers.

Marcus sits out race two in which Johnny Black makes most appeal and 40 minutes later he renews his acquaintanceship with Ice Queen who, quite frankly, has not shown anything on the racecourse to suggest she is good enough. But she drops in trip, wears blinkers for the first time and the opposition is weak. Those who prefer their form already in the book may wish to have a saver on Moonlight Dancer whose last run reads well.

Rommel, quite well away from an 11 draw last time when he raced second for much of the way, may just be good enough to win race four particularly as Black Belt is badly drawn.

Leadman is the form choice in the 2 000m TAB Maiden and is likely to start favourite assuming things are going Marcus’s way by this stage. But he is far from certain to confirm the placings with Greg Cheyne’s mount Silver De Lange who was only three-quarters of a length behind Leadman a fortnight ago. Indeed, judging by the way he ran on at the end, he may be sufficiently favoured by the extra furlong to turn the tables.

Eastern Front has been dropped two points in the Interbet.co.za Handicap but neither that nor Marcus may be enough to get him home in front. The race has a particularly open appearance although Chill Baby Chill would make a lot of appeal but for this being her second run after a rest.

It’s first time out of the maidens for Querari’s Secret in the last. However he did beat older horses last time when he showed considerable improvement with blinkers and Marcus can be relied upon to make light of the 13 draw.

By Michael Clower

Veteran New Zealand jockey Grant Cooksley has matched one of Lester Piggott’s achievements.

Cooksley, like the famed English rider, has been able to win a Group I race aged 57.

Cooksley became the oldest rider to win a Group I race in New Zealand when he won the Tarzino Trophy on Close Up at Hastings last weekend.

Grant Cooksley (Supplied)

It is likely that and he and Piggott are the oldest riders to have won an internationally recognised Group I race.

Piggott, who won a Group I race at Ellerslie in 1980, recorded his final Group I win in September 1993, in the Moyglare Stakes in Ireland, when two months short of his 58th birthday. He was 58 when he won the Group II Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in 1994, a race that now has Group I status.

Cooksley, who will turn 58 in December, was having just his third ride for the season when he won the Tarzino. It was his 66th Group I win but his first at that level since January 2006, when he won the Wellington Cup on Envoy.

Cooksley has a career tally of more than 2500 wins, including over 1000 in New Zealand, where his list of major victories also includes three wins in both the Auckland Cup and New Zealand Derby.

He has spent much of his riding career in Australia, where his wins have included two Sydney Cups, three Metropolitans and a Doncaster and he has finished second in both the Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper (twice).

He has also ridden in Singapore, Hong Kong, England, Dubai, Malaysia, Macau and New Caledonia.

Cooksley’s first major win came when he won the 1978 Great Northern Steeplechase, on Ballycastle, as an 18-year-old.

– New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing