Bargain-basement buy Twiginthedesert is after his fifth consecutive win in Wednesday's Primacy Handicap at Sandown.The Desert Sun four-year-old, prepared at Geelong by Vin Malady, was bought by part-owners Rodney Pickett and Wayne Testro for only $800 at an Inglis mixed sale in Melbourne last year."The horse came into the ring and they hadn't even looked at him, but they liked the fact that he was out of a Twig Moss mare," Malady said."He was unraced at the time but had a few faults. He was back

Bargain-basement buy Twiginthedesert is after his fifth consecutive win in Wednesday's Primacy Handicap at Sandown.

The Desert Sun four-year-old, prepared at Geelong by Vin Malady, was bought by part-owners Rodney Pickett and Wayne Testro for only $800 at an Inglis mixed sale in Melbourne last year.

"The horse came into the ring and they hadn't even looked at him, but they liked the fact that he was out of a Twig Moss mare," Malady said.

"He was unraced at the time but had a few faults. He was back at the knee, his legs were reasonably bent, he had a callus on a fetlock joint and he was a wind-sucker."

The gelding has won five of his 10 starts including supplying Malady with his first metropolitan win at Moonee Valley over 1600m two starts back on March 26.

"He is a laid-back horse and we have had a bit of luck with him," Malady said.

"He has kept on improving. This is his toughest test but I can't see why he can't keep stepping up in class."

Sebastian Murphy, who has ridden Twiginthedesert twice for wins at Terang three runs back and at Ballarat last start, will again take the mount in the 1600m Rating 0-78 event.

Malady, 31, who has 14 horses in work, started out as an owner-trainer eight years ago after spending two years working for legendary trainer George Hanlon.

Twiginthedesert is one of the horses he takes regularly to work at Thirteenth Beach near Barwon Heads.

Malady will also saddle up Stellar Star in Wednesday's Betfair Hcp (1300m).

A six-year-old Westbridge gelding, Stellar Star has won nine races for Malady.

He is yet to win in town but has been placed at Moonee Valley.

Apprentice Nathan Rose takes 3kg off bringing Stellar Star in with 56kg.

Meanwhile, promising three-year-old Dennis The Menace is chasing a winning hat-trick in the So Called Hcp (1800m) as part of his preparation aimed at the Queensland Derby.

The Reset colt has raced only three times to date and should be unbeaten as he was most unlucky when a close-up third on debut to Testessentual in a Cranbourne maiden over 1400m late last month.

Dennis The Menace has since looked good in recording wins in a 1519m Moonee Valley maiden on April 1 and a 1600m Sandown three-year-old 0-72 Hcp on April 14.

Trainer Mick Kent was critical that Dennis The Menace received topweight of 59kg, 6kg above the minimum, considering his first win was only a maiden.

But at the same time he has a high regard for the colt.

"I rate him. He can quicken," Kent said.

"I entered him for the South Australian Derby and it's been in the back of my mind to run him in it, but we're now looking at taking him to Queensland for the Derby."

The Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) is run at Eagle Farm on June 12.

Brad Rawiller will again ride Dennis The Menace on Wednesday having partnered him to his two wins from as many rides on the colt.