win at a canter

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

Rooney scored a brace as Milan's old legs finally caught up with them as United came from behind to win at a canter until some late drama that saw United's Michael Carrick dismissed in injury time for a second booking.

win at a canter = win hands down = win easily

V.

[Rover_KE]

Correct.

It's a metaphor from horse-racing, where the leading horse is so far in the lead that it does not need to gallop.

Rover