1 month ago
5
DESERT OF MALIBU’s return to the winners’ enclosure three weeks ago, zipping seven and a half furlongs in 1:32.3, dismissing RUN JULIE RUN by seven lengths, confirmed how devastating the six-year-old American mare can be when let loose on the lead.
Hunting back-to-back wins, tackling open-allowance runners in Saturday’s She’s a Maneater Trophy at a mile, DESERT OF MALIBU reminds of a high-schooler repeating fifth form, having completed sixth form.
At her peak last year, DESERT OF MALIBU went on a four-race win streak, landing the Saint Cecelia Trophy, Lady Geeta Trophy, None Such Trophy, and the Port Royal Sprint, which she won off a near two-month break, easily beating WALL STREET TRADER and IS THAT A FACT at six furlongs.
Such was her dominance that DESERT OF MALIBU next faced the starter as a 7-2 chance in the Mouttet Mile against overseas winners, finishing eighth, fifth up to a furlong out, after being checked down the backstretch.
Allowing BOOTYLICIOUS 20lb and losing at five and a half furlongs in 1:05.4 was certainly no disgrace at the end of a tough 2024 marked by five wins from eight starts for DESERT OF MALIBU.
Ring-rusty when making her 2025 debut in May, DESERT OF MALIBU, down in class on a conditions bye, having not won a grade-one race since the Port Royal Sprint, ran probably the worst race of her local career, finishing down the track behind COMMANDANT, ATOMICA and TIZ TOK.
However, when she returned in the Clovis Metcalfe three weeks ago, DESERT OF MALBU made open-allowance seem easy, treating RUN JULIE RUN with disdain.
RUN JULIE RUN got within a length and three-quarter of Mouttet Mile-winner FUNCAANDUN in her previous race but was absolutely no match for DESERT OF MALIBU.
FUNCAANDUN is back hunting back-to-back wins, hoping lightweight stablemate, CALIFORNIA CROWN, will be able to unsettle DESERT OF MALIBU on the lead. CALIFORNIA CROWN got a taste of grade-one pace recently. Reminders await him with DESERT OF MALIBU running six pounds lighter than her last massacre.
English (US) ·