Desert of Malibu to set Seeking My Dream pace

UNITED STATES-BRED DESERT OF MALIBU returns from a well-deserved five-month break, primed for Saturday’s Seeking My Dream Trophy, facing stablemate ATOMICA at seven and a half furlongs.

Last raced on Christmas Eve, DESERT OF MALIBU failed by a half-length to pull off a Herculean task, allowing lone-speed BOOTYLICIOUS 20lb at five and a half furlongs in the Chris Armond Sprint.

BOOTYLICIOUS, fresh off a morale-boosting win at six furlongs against overnight-allowance runners with 122lb, first dismissed PACK PLAYS, who had led the Mouttet Mile field two and a half weeks earlier, before repelling DESERT OF MALIBU in a fantastic victory against the grade-one runner.

Kept wide by PACK PLAYS down the backstretch, DESERT OF MALIBU closed along the rail in the stretch run. However, the winning post intervened with BOOTYLICIOUS’ needle fast approaching empty in a swift 1:05.4, the quickest time at the trip since I AM FRED destroyed MAHOGANY and company in 1:05.2 that summer.

CHAMPION JOCKEY

One of the country’s most destructive middle-distance runners, DESERT OF MALIBU, who has passed the post in front 10 times from 13 starts, has Omar Walker aboard, replacing champion jockey Raddesh Roman, who had partnered her in the Chris Armond.

Interestingly, Walker was aboard local heroine, ATOMICA, caught stealing home by American BARNABY at eight and a half furlongs in the Ian Levy Cup on April 5.

ATOMICA had set terrific splits to get rid of RUN JULIE RUN, COMMANDANT and TIZ TOK, but failed to withstand the late charge of BARNABY, who was beating her for the second race in a row after his February 22 win at seven and a half furlongs in the Chairman’s Trophy.

Gary Subratie has summoned Dane Dawkins to partner ATOMICA, who sits level with DESERT OF MALIBU at 121lb, a pound heavier than her scorching run in the Ian Levy.

DESERT OF MALIBU’s middle-distance pace should allow the six-year-old American mare to dictate terms on the lead. ATOMICA doesn’t like being led and will have to be hustled off her legs to maintain pace.

Walker won’t be hanging around down the backstretch awaiting ATOMICA to come calling. It will be catch me if you can from the word go, with the American getting the nod at 121lb.