DESERT of Malibu, trained by Gary Subraite, is set to lead the charge in today’s running of the Harlequin Cup at Caymanas Park. The five-furlong straight sprint, an Open Allowance contest for three-year-olds, boasts a purse of $1.4 million and promises to be an explosive affair.

Veteran jockey Dane Dawkins, who has been in good form this season, takes the reins aboard Desert of Malibu and they will be hoping to add another win to their consistent record.

Aside from a mishap in the Ian Levy Cup, which the filly did not finish, her only other sub par performances came against elite company, finishing eighth in the prestigious Mouttet Mile and struggling against a sharp Commandant when returning from a layoff in the Seeking My Dream Stakes.

Meanwhile, Legacy Isle enters the race with questions to answer. After narrowly losing the Mouttet Mile in dramatic fashion to Funcaandun, the gelding has yet to recapture that impressive form. Bootylicious, in the same breath, has repeatedly found it tough to handle both high speed and heavy weight, often folding under pressure in key moments.

One of the more intriguing entrants is Champion Bubbler. Since returning from a lengthy nine-month spell the late-running specialist has rattled off three straight victories down the straight course. Despite this hot streak Champion Bubbler may need to produce something extraordinary to topple the speedy Desert of Malibu in today’s sprint.

— Robert Bailey