Desert of Malibu set to defend None Such Sprint title

CUT DOWN by fellow American FUNCAANDUN being struck 24 times by Robert Halledeen while under a hand-ride from Raddesh Roman abiding to the whip rules, DESERT OF MALIBU returns on Saturday to defend her None Such Sprint title, two pounds lighter than last year’s seven-length romp in the six-furlong event.

Mouttet Mile Florida invader, LEGACY ISLE, who was caught at the wire in December’s US$250,000 race by FUNCAANDUN, carries topweight 126lb with Roman, giving up five pounds to DESERT OF MALIBU being with Dane Dawkins astride.

However, for the second consecutive Saturday, champion and leading rider Roman could find himself on the receiving end of a mount he had previously partnered. Last Saturday, Roman chose to ride American FLORINDIA ahead of SUPREMASI in the O & S Tack Room Trophy, aboard whom he was disqualified a month earlier.

DESERT OF MALIBU has one of the most enviable records of Caymanas Park’s equine population, bettered possibly by only FUNCAANDUN, boasting 10 wins from 16 starts, disqualified twice, one instance reversed on appeal, last April’s six-furlong Lady Geeta Trophy.

A six-furlong specialist, six-year-old United States-bred mare DESERT OF MALIBU has won all four races she has contested at the trip, a distance at which she uses terrifying speed to run rivals off their legs.

LEGACY ISLE, a speedster in his own right, posted a fabulous 1:06.0 for five and a half furlongs in the Gregory Park Sprint on June 21. However, when pitted against stiffer company in the Hall of Fame Stakes on July 12, the five-year-old was caught at six furlongs by lightweight WALL STREET TRADER in a modest 1:13.2.

Though armed with an alibi of giving up 24lb to WALL STREET TRADER, LEGACY ISLE didn’t appear a dominant sprinter, sitting off the fractions while CALIFORNIA CROWN and PACK PLAYS disputed the lead.

Against DESERT OF MALIBU, who takes no prisoners at six furlongs, LEGACY ISLE will be pulled off his bridle too early against the mare, who has clocked sub-59.0 splits in her last three races.

DESERT OF MALIBU won last year’s None Such Trophy in 1:10.4, carrying 123lb, reporting off a five-month break, one of the quickest times at the trip since Eros’ October 1993 track record of 1:09.2.