Libran has overcome a tough run early in the final straight to win the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Libran savaged the line to win the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes this afternoon. Photo: Steve Hart

Libran savaged the line to win the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes this afternoon. Photo: Steve Hart

The lion’s share of interest was focused on Kiwi raider Chocante, Life Less Ordinary and Antonio Giuseppe this afternoon, however Libran has stamped himself as a leading contender for the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) in a fortnight after producing a superior staying performance.

Glyn Schofield was able to get the horse to switch off in transit and enjoyed a run off the early pace of Classic Uniform and Harper’s Choice.

Met with a wall of horse when the field straightened, it appeared as through Libran would simply have too much to do, but he showed his class in finding a tight run between horses, before mustering a big turn of foot to beat stable mate Antonio Giuseppe by a length.

Schofield is confident that the horse will only improve off the run and would like to stick with the horse when he takes his place in The Metropolitan field.

“He really hit the line strongly first-up and today we just rode him in a similar fashion – just let him settle where he was happy.

“Gee, didn’t he let down. He took a really narrow split and once he got his nose in there, gee he dashed really strongly for me.

“He is a beautiful horse to ride and to look at. He can get himself in a bit of a tiz for no reason, but today he was really composed and he’s really happy with himself, and so he should be.”

Trainer Chris Waller was confident that the horse would perform to a high standard in the Kingston Town Stakes and believes that he will improve again at a mile and a half.

“Libran ran a really good race first-up and his work since then has been really good,” Waller said.

“He just went missing in the wet autumn. The wet tracks cost him, he’s on good tracks now and he was ridden patiently.

“It was a funny race, they took off at the 400m as if there was no tomorrow, but he was ridden patiently and he came home with a barnstorming run.”

Libran has firmed onto the top line of The Metropolitan betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au following this afternoon’s win.

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Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.