Amor Ardiente a punter’s darling

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 – 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 in his maiden triumph but it was a win full of merit.

Visiting rider Gunter Wrogemann was also impressed. “He’ll easily get eight to 10 furlongs,” he surmised. Amor Ardiente has since won again and a third is on the cards when he starts in the sixth at Greyville this evening.

This is a Graduation Handicap and he gives weight all around but he was touched off a hair’s breadth over the Greyville mile last time out as Sherman Brown takes over from Sean Veale who has ‘relocated’ to Cape Town for the season to ride for his boss Dennis Drier.

The Cape summer season is still in its infancy but Dean Kannemeyer will have his eyes on some of the lucrative pickings on offer in his home town.

However, his KZN-based string is starting to fire after a hiatus of a couple of months for compulsory AHS vaccinations. He saddles Stealth Admiral and Rumbleinthejungle in the opening leg of the Pick 6, both in with chances, but both may have to take a back seat.

Gareth van Zyl has been a model student and learnt well from his father Gavin.

Zigi Zagi Zugu was probably named after a night on the town but could have the measure of the Kannemeyer pair after two forward showings.Kannemeyer has Miss Smarty Pants lined up in the fourth.

She had excellent Cape Town form before arriving in KZN, the thinking probably that she would be out of her depth during the Cape summer but competitive in KZN.

Mention second box to Duncan Howells and you will get short thrift – he’s not a red-head for nothing!

Little Audrey has been responsible for three of his 26 second placings this term but will be in short order for the Gold Circle Podcast Maiden where she has amble back-up in stable companion Holy Flame should she be found wanting once again.

Argenteus is a weak 3-1 favourite for the seventh, a tricky handicap over a mile, but Andre Nel’s mare is in mustard form and been close-up at her last two. Her last two wins were on the poly so she should have a bright chance again.

Dunzie has been another Howells headache, runner-up in her last three but in good form since being raced in blinkers.

Craig Zackey went down narrowly over course and distance at their penultimate start and a repeat could see her home in another difficult handicap where a number of runners are in with winning chances.