With three seconds from his last four starts, Malibu Style deserved a change of luck in Saturday's Listed Vic Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington but it didn't go to plan when the seven-year-old son of Magnus missed the start.
Ridden by Chris Parnham for his father Neville Parnham, Malibu Style moved into a striking position at the 400 metres and while Parnham looked as if he did not want to go back to the fence his hand was forced. The son of Magnus accelerated impressively under his 58.5 kgs to hold the challenge of Milwaukee (Fastnet Rock) by half a length with Holy Blade (I Am Invincible) one and a half lengths back in third. (image Grant Courtney).
The Western Australia ace advanced his record to 11 ins, 9 seconds and 9 thirds from 55 starts with earnings of $854,925.
"We were confident he could win. He has been going really, really super and my assistant trainer Mark Sestich has been looking after him over here and has been giving me feedback," Neville Parnham said.
"He's really suited by racing in Victoria. It's very hard to win the sprint races in Perth because we don't have as many of them, so it's a lot e3asier to place him in races here.
"This was going to be his final run but he seems to be in really good order at the moment so we might consider another run or two.
From one of Western Australia's most revered families, Malibu Style was a $40,000 purchase by his trainer from the Bowness Stud draft at the 2013 Inglis Classic Yearling sale.
He is the third foal of the unraced Fusaichi Pegasus mare Origami whose dam Born Western (Best Western) was one of four stakes winners out of the grand broodmare Rich Haul (Haulpak).
They were led by the Group II winner and multiple Group I placed The Heavyweight (Zeditave), Listed winner and useful stallion Zedrich (Zeditave) and the Listed winner Happy Strike (Gold Fever).
Bowness sold Origami for just $8,000 to Premium Bloodstock Services at the 2014 Easter Broodmare sale.
The Duporth filly she was carrying was sold for $30,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Perth Yearling sale.
Origami died in February 2017. Her final foal is a 2yo filly by Gingerbread Man named Kirigami.
Malibu Style is one of 19 stakes-winners for Sun Stud's Magnus who will command a fee of $16,500 this spring.
