THREE-year-old gelding Muntahaa had to work hard for his first win at the Vaal on Tuesday, with Callan Murray keeping him going in the face of a challenge from Gavin Lerena on Starpath.

Muntahaa, bred by Varsfontein Stud, is a son of Western Winter and stakes winner Princess Polly. He races fro Sheikh Hamdan of Dubai and may improve more over further.