Desert of Malibu, a six-year-old American-bred chestnut mare, is poised to make a strong run in the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy feature at Caymanas Park this afternoon. Despite a disappointing eighth-place finish on her seasonal debut on May 17, the talented filly has looked impressive in her recent workouts and is fancied to bounce back with a strong performance.

The seven-and-a-half-furlong (1,500m) race should suit Desert of Malibu’s style, and her class and talent could prove to be a winning combination. If she can rediscover her competitive form, she could be a serious threat to the other runners and take home the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy. She has raced 14 times so far on local soil, winning 10 times and finishing second once and has earned over $10 million in Stakes.

Desert of Malibu has trained well coming into this race. The Gary Subratie trainee galloped four furlongs in 49.0 on Sunday, June 22 and then worked 1:02.2 for five furlongs (1,100m) on June 29. With her experience and ability, Desert of Malibu has the potential to deliver a standout performance and silence her critics. Will she be able to overcome her earlier setback and emerge victorious in the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy? The stage is set for an exciting showdown.

The Open Allowance contest, open to three-year-olds and upward, is positioned as the ninth event on the 10-race card with a post time of 5:10 pm. First race is at 12:15 pm.

Run Julie Run, trained by Ian Parsard, is a strong contender in the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy and poses a significant threat to Desert of Malibu’s chances. With her impressive performance in the Miracle Man Cup on New Year’s Day, when she won by 5¼ lengths under Dane Dawkins’ ride, Run Julie Run has demonstrated her class and talent.

Her victory in the Miracle Man Cup showcased her ability to dominate the competition, and with her experience in prominent races like the Chairman’s Plate, which she won by 2 ¼ lengths on April 27, she has the skill and know-how to handle strong opponents. Given her impressive track record, Run Julie Run is a force to be reckoned with, and Desert of Malibu will need to be at her best to overcome this hugely promising filly. The rivalry between these two contenders promises to make the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy an exciting and closely contested affair.

While Desert of Malibu and Run Julie Run are top contenders, other horses in the nine-horse field could make a strong impact. Notably,
Unspun, a potential dark horse with hidden talents; Inspire Force, a horse with a strong pedigree and potential for a surprise performance; and Mojito, a contender with a taste for victory, who could cause upsets.

These horses add an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability to the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy, making it a thrilling contest to watch.

— Ruddy Allen

Ones to watch

Race 1) Sir John/Eazy Peazy/Green Gold Rush

Race 2) Supernatural Power/Linguist/Riches to Rags

Race 3) Enthusiasm/Nuclear Jet/My Eclipse

Race 4) Strike Smart/Here Comes Doc/Manny Slam

Race 5) King Air/Rusty/Storm A Come

Race 6) Heiroffire/Midewak/Muzzo

Race 7) Alchemy of Souls/Uncle Baba/Princess Kris

Race 8) Major Danger/Perfect Brew/Freedom Street

Race 9) Desert of Malibu/Run Julie Run/Mojito

Race 10) Abreathoffreshair/Undisclosdlocation/Cryptogirl