GARY Subratie’s Desert of Malibu appears poised to secure back-to-back victories as the American-bred horse headlines a competitive field assembled for the Harlequin Cup, the featured event on this afternoon’s 10-race programme at Caymanas Park.

The talented seven-year-old mare enters the three-year-olds and upwards Open Allowance contest, set to go five and a half furlongs (1,100m), in excellent condition after an authoritative performance in the Overnight Allowance Easter Sprint over the same distance on April 6. In that contest Desert of Malibu displayed customary tactical speed and quickened decisively in deep stretch to win comfortably by three and three-quarter lengths.

Though coming off a 54-day break for a second outing this season, the Malibu Moon-Lady Digger progeny, to be partnered with Dane Dawkins, has been very active at exercise and looks primed to stamp her authority in the nine-horse field. Desert of Malibu’s biggest asset is versatility, as the mare can press the pace from close range or settle just behind the leaders before launching a bid approaching the stretch run.

That adaptability could prove crucial in a race featuring several pace-conscious rivals in the likes of California Crown, She’s That Girl, Goodbye Firefly, and the up-in-class Don Kwesi, who are all worthy opposition on their day but face the uphill difficult task of trying to withstand Desert of Malibu in the closing stages.

The main threat could come from Jason DaCosta’s California Crown who ran a blinder in the Seeking My Dream feature over seven and a half furlongs, placing second to stablemate and Mouttet Mile prospect Funcaandun on May 16. Though inserted as a mere rabbit to set a tidy pace for Funcaandun, California Crown slipped the field and battled bravely all the way to the end — even after being overtaken by the 2024 Horse of the Year.

On the strength of that performance California Crown warrants serious consideration and should again be thereabouts at the end with this significant reduction in distance.

The Steven Todd-conditioned She’s That Girl has shown consistency in three of four starts this campaign and should be prominent throughout.

The contest is positioned as the ninth event with a post time of 5:00 pm. First race is at 11:50 am.

Ones to watch

Race 1) City of Dreams/Wah A Gwaan/Imaginearium

Race 2) Army Tank/Exceeding Beyond/Iam Who I Am

Race 3) Family Feud/Big La/Goodness Graceous

Race 4) Golden Lawyer/Silent Mission/She’s Adorable

Race 5) Big Big Daddy/Ability/Gelroy

Race 6) Money Mission/Hoofy Dee/Mashallah

Race 7) Rocket Fire Seb/Thousand Treasures/Ralphs Treasure

Race 8) I Love Birdie/Hooray Henry/Dark Authority

Race 9) Desert of Malibu/California Crown/She’s That Girl

Race 10) Digital One/Unbelievable Force/Honour Prince