If there were an Equus award for bravery, then Louvre (SAF) would be a strong contender. Duncan Howells's charge produced a magnificent front-running display to hold off her pursuers in the Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1450m at Clairwood on Saturday. Espumanti (GB) pipped Earth's Orbit (SAF) for second with Halfway To Heaven (SAF) completing the quartet.

Breaking from a wide draw, Louvre was soon in front with Espumanti and Earth's Orbit disputing second place. Comtesse Du Bois was next best, tracked by hot favourite Princess Victoria. King's Temptress raced in midfield with Happy Archer, with Negev and Bermuda Sloop further back and Halfway To Heaven racing at the rear with Amur Affair.

Louvre slowed things down about 800m out but kicked again upon entering the straight. She still had a handy lead passing the 400m mark but the challenges started coming thick and first entering the last furlong. Espumanti and Earth's Orbit were the immediate dangers but Halfway To Heaven was starting to run on strongly to the outside and Comtesse Du Bois had also moved into contention. Princess Victoria had briefly looked dangerous but came under pressure and it was apparent that she would struggle to run a place.

The final stages resembled a cavalry charge with five horses racing almost in a line and any of them looking capable of winning it. The script called for 36/1 shot Louvre to be overhauled by one of her more fancied rivals but the daughter of Doowaley responded superbly to Alec Forbes's urgings and she stuck her neck out stubbornly to record the biggest win of her career.

Louvre has been something of a fringe performer in the big races, having posted seven previous wins in lesser company but generally having to settle for the minor placings or worse in graded company. However, she has improved with age and produced a career-best performance here. Nor can it be said that this was a fluke: she had won a Pinnacle event over this course and distance last month beating all of Happy Archer, Bermuda Sloop and Halfway To Heaven and she confirmed the form with each of them here. This was a smart field and she conjured up a win full of merit.

Espumanti bounced back to her best and she is clearly coming into her own. Bred to northern time, she is a few months behind the locally bred 3-year-olds and one can expect her to continue to improve. She will notch up a big race prize of her own before long.

Earth's Orbit ran a cracker in third. As with the pair that beat her, she was always up handy and continued to fight all the way to the line.

Halfway To Heaven filled the same position here as she had done when fourth in Louvre's Pinnacle victory but she looked a lot more threatening here. She was only beaten half a length and fared respectably enough.

5 b m Doowaley (IRE) - Prive by Saumarez (GB)
Owners: Messrs Suven Govender, Dean Moodley, Dharman Moodley, K N Naidoo & N Ramiah
Bred by D Cohen & Sons (Pty) Ltd
Winning trainer: Duncan Howells