Second chance for Desert of Malibu
ONCE BITTEN, twice shy should not be the approach to classy DESERT OF MALIBU in Saturday’s Saint Cecelia Cup after clocking fantastic times from five furlongs straight to a mile, which she won in 1:38.2 when landing the St Elizabeth Distaff last November.
DESERT OF MALIBU’s gate antics returned to haunt her at the start of last month’s Reggae Month Trophy - her first real loss in seven starts - ignoring disqualification after passing the post first on Mouttet Mile Day.
Unable to recover at five furlongs straight after badly raring at the off, it was impossible for DESERT OF MALIBU to make amends as she had done when spotting fellow American MADELYN’S SUNSHINE a dozen lengths at six furlongs in January.
Returning at six and a half furlongs with the cloud of a gate issue hanging over her talented head, the Malibu Moon-Lady Digger five-year-old mare is bound to have bettors pondering the wisdom of banking her despite previous displays suggesting she is definitely grade-one material.
However, it is a horse race and chances were made to be taken, hence DESERT OF MALIBU deserves a second opportunity to correct her roguish behaviour, which Gary Subratie has been addressing by having her break from the gate on successive Thursday mornings since her Reggae Month Trophy fiasco.
Though lining up against a talented field to include dead-heaters ATLANTIC CONVOY and FURTHER AND BEYOND, an improved DIVINE FORCE and MADELYN’S SUNSHINE, DESERT OF MALIBU could be hard to beat if she gets it right at the start.
However, should DESERT OF MALIBU’s habit return to plague her, the race will be thrown wide open with the prospect of a collapsing pace, considering speedsters BOOTYLICIOUS reporting at 115lb and MADELYN’S SUNSHINE at 117lb.
DIVINE FORCE, along with stalkers ATLANTIC CONVOY and FURTHER AND BEYOND, would relish that scenario. ATLANTIC CONVOY and FURTHER AND BEYOND were lethal when pouncing on MAMMA MIA at seven furlongs a month ago in the ‘Billy’ Williams Memorial on February 25.
However, DIVINE FORCE has appeared significantly improved, twice flirting with splits of 1:11.0 and fractions, setting his own pace in both instances, making him the most dangerous horse on paper in the Saint Cecelia Cup.