Desert of Malibu looks too good for rivals

RETURNING IN Saturday’s St Catherine Cup at six furlongs with five impressive fast times, from five furlongs straight to a mile, it will take an out-of-this-world performance to deny five-year-old DESERT OF MALIBU.

United States-bred DESERT OF MALIBU has never been this light, 114lb, not even among grade-two company, who she dismissed in the Bruceontheloose Sprint on Mouttet Mile Day before her number was taken down for interference at the half-mile marker.

What would have been a five-race unbeaten streak, locally, was blemished by the United States-bred mare’s cutting in too sharp on MADELYN’S SUNSHINE while in total control of the Bruceontheloose. After kicking clear of MADELYN’S SUNSHINE in a three-furlong split of 33.4, DESERT OF MALIBU was put into cruise mode by Dane Dawkins, awaiting any possible stretch danger, while ripping 58.2 for five furlongs.

I’VE GOT MAGIC came calling but was similarly turned back by DESERT OF MALIBU, who, though ducking into her challenger’s path along the rail in the stretch run, would have still beaten her fellow American, who was subsequently awarded the event.

EMPEROROFTHECATS eyes a fourth consecutive win after surprising SHE’S MY DESTINY and MADELYN’S SUNSHINE at five and a half furlongs on December 23. However, picking up 10lb to challenge an American, who is ‘unbeaten’ on local soil, should prove a stretch for the Emperor Hall-Laws Of The Cat gelding.

MADELYN’S SUNSHINE ran an odd race when beaten into fourth by EMPEROROFTHECATS in the Chris Armond Memorial Sprint on December 23, never in the hunt among the leaders. The American returns as a pesky speedster but not a bother, considering how DESERT OF MALIBU, despite interference, had kicked clear of her in the Bruceontheloose.