Desert of Malibu, Atomica impress ahead of Mouttet Mile

ATOMICA SUCCESSFULLY defended her Jamaica Cup title in impressive fashion yesterday, notching her fifth consecutive win, beating old rival BLUE VINYL by four lengths in what turned out to be a two-horse race after United States-bred RUNAWAY ALGO cried ‘no mas’ when the pace quickened five furlongs out.

ATOMICA clocked 2:03.0 for the nine-and-a-half furlong trip, way off the 1:57.3 she had posted last year in a 14-length win, outpacing BLUE VINYL, who had denied her last season’s Triple Crown by landing the Jamaica St Leger.

If ATOMICA was impressive, her stablemate, United States-bred DESERT OF MALIBU was phenomenal a race earlier in the St Elizabeth Distaff, making every leap a winning one, clocking 1:38.2, appearing to be next month’s Mouttet Mile winner in waiting.

Splits of 23.1, 45.1 and 1:12.1, repelled Canada-bred AMERICAN TAP, who gave up the chase a furlong out, unable to keep up with the unbeaten four-year-old filly ticking off her fourth straight win.

Bred Malibu Moon-Lady Digger, DESERT OF MALIBU, blessed with speed, has shown no sign of stamina limitations, giving Dane Dawkins a tough Mouttet Mile call to make after dismounting to accompany ATOMICA in the Jamaica Cup.

Meanwhile, MAHOGANY outclassed United States-bred MADELYN’S SUNSHINE to win the six-furlong Port Royal Sprint in 1:12.0, stalking the American and her stablemate, MAMMA MIA, before easing into second coming off the home turn.

Asked to attack MADELYN’S SUNSHINE by Robert Halledeen a furlong out, MAHOGANY pulled alongside the determined foreigner and gained the upper hand inside the final half-furlong for a strong victory, signalling he will also be at his best for the December 2 Mouttet Mile.

Gary Subratie starred the 10-race card, rounding off his big-race wins with a 62-1 stunner in the closing event. SENSATIONAL MOVE recovered from a slow start by saving ground along the rail and pouncing off the turn to run down PRINCESS SHARON.

Partnered by sparingly used Rudolph Paige, SENSATIONAL MOVE quickened away in the stretch run, enjoying the tongue tie Subratie fitted for the event, turning the table on CAPTAIN CALICO, who had beaten him into fourth place on October 21.

Champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s FASTNFURIOUSLINKS made all in the BGLC-TOBA Jamboree Sprint at odds of 4-1, repelling stablemate ROSETTA in the six-furlong event for two-year-old maidens.

The racing fraternity returns to Caymanas Park this afternoon for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association of Jamaica’s annual Mixed Sale, starting at noon.