By winning the final G1 race of 2014 Shared Belief may have done enough to rest Horse of the Year honours from a big list of contenders.

This was his eighth in nine starts, last year's champion 2YO having suffered his only loss when fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 1 after being roughed up at the start.

Dropping back in trip to seven furlongs, he defeated a quality field of nine 3-year-olds in the Malibu in an excellent time of 1:20.69 with Mike Smith aboard.

"This race proved what a great horse he is, just by doing what he did," Smith said.

"To run route races, then to come back to seven eighths against top sprinters...to me, that puts a big feather in his cap and puts him in front for Horse of the Year.

“I don't know if people really understand how difficult it is to go from a mile and a quarter back to seven eighths. It takes a special kind of horse; he's that, and maybe more.

“I certainly would have liked to have seen us undefeated right now and then there wouldn't be a question about Horse of the Year right now."

Conquest Two Step, at odds of 72-1, refused to give way while racing to the line on the inside of odds on favourite Shared Belief and went under by only a head.

Shared Belief’s trainer Jerry Hollendorfer completed a sweep of the G1 stakes on the opening day program after his 12-1 shot Sam's Sister won the G1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

It was the first win in both races for the Hall of Fame conditioner.

Hollendorfer said he is considering a couple of options to kick off the 2015 campaign with Shared Belief.

They include the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes on February 7, which could set up an early-season showdown with California Chrome.

Shared Belief surpassed $2 million in career earnings with his Malibu win, his fifth in six starts in 2014.

Hollendorfer declined to discuss the Breeders' Cup Classic result and the Horse of the Year vote.