Desert of Malibu silenced any doubts about her form with a commanding performance at Caymanas Park on Saturday, July 5. The talented American-bred mare bounced back from a lacklustre showing in May, seizing the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy in emphatic fashion.
The 7½ furlong Open Allowance contest witnessed a characteristic display as she surged ahead in the final stretch under the skilled guidance of jockey Raddesh Roman, winning by 8¼ lengths in 1:32.3.
For trainer Gary Subratie, the win was a testament to persistence and thoughtful recalibration. After her disappointing effort on May 17, Subratie took a different route—lightening her training and focusing more on building stamina than speed.
“She trained a little lightly coming into this race because I noticed whenever I pressured her too much, she never gives me a good run,” Subratie shared. “So, we scaled back, focused more on endurance—and she responded beautifully.”
Roman was equally impressed by the mare’s evolution, calling her “a very nice horse with a lot of heart.” While acknowledging that Desert of Malibu still faces challenges, he believes she’s on the right path.
Subratie remains cautiously optimistic about what’s next, admitting he hasn't locked in her next outing.
“I just wanted to see how she'd perform today. She’s good—almost back on top—and the next race should see her even better,” he said.
