Broodmare gem Cantantes keeps producing

Trainer Robert Heathcote is hoping broodmare Cantantes has left her best two horses to last after she got another winner in Bellissimi Amici at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Bellimissi Amici ($2.80) is the last foal from Cantantes, who died two years ago, and she joined a long list of the mare’s offspring as winners when she took the QTIS Two-Year-Old (1300m).

Heathcote has had a huge amount of luck with the offspring of Cantantes, a Just Awesome mare, who was among the first horses he trained in the late 1990s.

She won two races but it is as a broodmare that she has proved her worth,

Cantantes best performed performers have been the Group Two winner Funtantes and the multiple Listed winner Excellantes.

But she has produced a string of other winners including Notre Amour, Khaaptentes, Brilliantes, Kingtantes, Remember Frank, Alle Vongle and Guntantes, who were all trained by Heathcote.

Bellissimi Amici is a sister to smart three-year-old Guntantes as progeny of the sire Rothesay.

Heathcote said he felt the further Bellissimi Amici got in distance the better she would be.

“They have run 33.5 for their final 600m today and she was two lengths off them at the 600m,” he said.

“There is a 1300m two year old again at Eagle Farm in a fortnight and that is where she is heading.

“I am really glad she has won for Cantantes because she was so good for us. Hopefully her last two foals Guntantes and Bellissimi Amici will be her best but she owes us nothing.”