Progressive mare Malacanto (Per Incanto-Malaya by Towkay) showed she was well and truly ready for a crack at Saturday racing with another winning performance at Otaki on Thursday.
Trained at Opaki just north of Masterton by her co-breeder and part owner Ian Wyeth, the four-year-old Per Incanto mare had to call on all her toughness to win her third race in five career starts.
Positioned in the worst of the going closest to the rail turning for home, Malacanto hit the front shortly after but then looked likely to be swamped by wider runners in the better going at the 100m. Not to be denied Malacanto lifted noticeably once she saw her competition and was holding her closest challengers comfortably at the line.
Malacanto continues the impressive start made to the new season by her sires four-year-olds. To date Per incanto has had seven four-year-olds start in the new season under review for four wins, a second and a third placing.
