| Racing’s gentle giant has done it again as Magic Millions sold runners dominated today’s Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. |
After a thrilling battle in the recent Group Three Spring Stakes at Morphettville that was ultimately decided in the stewards room, Behemoth and Beau Rossa have cleared out in another feature. Today Behemoth burst to the front in the straight and then was able to just hold out a late charge from Beau Rossa as the South Australians went one-two. The win was a triumph for an emotional pick up rider Brett Prebble. “That was pretty special,” the record breaking hoop said. “In racing there’s the highs and the lows and I’ve had them all. I’ve worked hard and it hasn’t come out of turn.” Prebble then sounded a warning for Behemoth’s likely rivals into the rest of his campaign. “I reckon he needed the run,” Prebble said. “I think he will come along well from that – he’d had enough late in the race.” “He’s a big robust horse and he will improve with the run and that’s exciting,” Prebble added. Behemoth’s Goolwa based trainer David Jolly watched his charge just hold out Beau Rossa with that runner’s preparer Will Clarken at Morphettville Junction adjacent to the Adelaide track which also raced today. “It was a great race to watch,” Jolly said. “I thought we were in a great spot early and then they dropped the anchor.” “I told Brett that he might be able to cruise around them and have some horses on your inside and that’s exactly how it panned out.” “He had to go a bit early with the tempo. Beau Rossa was unlucky again for the boys – he’s really knocking on the door!” Jolly, like Prebble, said he expected good improvement in fitness for Behemoth. “We are only early in the spring,” Jolly noted. “I think his third and fourth runs will be his best.” As he did last year after winning the Memsie, Behemoth could have his next start in the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. “I will discuss that with Sam (Lyons, Grand Syndications). We will see what weight he gets and go from there.” The effort of winning back to back weight for age Memsie Stakes’ wasn’t lost on a proud winning trainer – noting only a handful of legends of racing had achieved the same feat. “As a kid you’re in awe of these horses and to now train one like that is beyond my wildest dreams,” Jolly added. Behemoth is one of two winners for his dam, the stakes winning Zedrich mare Penny Banger. The imposingly built galloper races in the colours of Grand Syndications who paid $6,000 for their triple Group One winner at the 2017 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. Behemoth was bred at Tyreel Stud and was offered at the Gold Coast through the draft of Riversdale. Winner: Behemoth Breeding: All Too Hard-Penny Banger (Zedrich) Race: MRC Memsie Stakes G1 (1400m) Sold for: $6,000 Sale: 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale Vendor: Riversdale (As Agent) Buyer: Grand Syndicates Earnings: $3,218,625 Owner(s): BL Hannon, AJ Devine, CJ Downie, V Francesca, BM McGilvray, T Fletcher, P Neuberger, MJ Smith, TJ Thompson, Ms LM Woodroffe, 21St Century Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: E Savaglia), The Grand (Mgr: PV Morley), Samui Racing (Mgr: PM Hogan) & The Quine Boys Inc (Mgr: CRT Quine) Trainer: David Jolly (Goolwa) |
