Good win! Cante Libre soars clear under Akash Aucharuz (JC Photos)
Paul Matchett’s consistent Kahal mare Cante Libre scored a long overdue first stakes win, when she brought the curtain down on a festive Emerald Cup day on Saturday, with an emphatic victory in the R150 000 Listed Banyana Handicap run over 1000m.
The fillies and mares dash always had the look of one of the most competitive puzzles on the day, and so it proved to be. The money came for Kum Naidoo’s Ikati, who was backed into 22 to 10, with some interest in War Path and Kinematic Countess.
The thirteen strong field jumped on a par with War Path leading Approximate and Pleasure Jet, with Tobe’s Lass and Cante Libre further back.
The fight got serious into the 300m as Robbie Fradd punched War Path out comfortably as Pleasure Jet rolled and Kinematic Countess unleashed her effort.
In a matter of strides Akash Aucharuz steered Cante Libre down the inside and she bounced clear smartly under her light weight and drew off to beat the pacy War Path by two lengths in a time of 58,80 secs.
Kinematic Countess put in her usual game effort in third.
Ikati never showed, and disappointed her followers.
The winner was bred by Gary Player Stud and is by Kahal out of the two time winning National Assembly mare, Real World.
This was Cante Libre’s first stakes win and her fifth overall win from her 27 starts for 7 places and R334 850 in prize money.
Cante Libre was a bargain R40 000 purchase on the National 2yo Sale.
