BehemothĀ has become the first horse since Sunline to record back-to-back victories in the Group 1Ā MemsieĀ Stakes at Caulfield.
The South Australian galloper scored under Craig Williams in last year’s 1400m contest at weight-for-age while Brett PrebbleĀ picked up the mount this year.
Prebble got the nod when Jamie KahĀ was suspended by Racing Victoria stewards for a COVID breach after Williams had earlier knocked back the ride to partnerĀ Toffane.
Out on his legs late in the race, Behemoth ($3.20) held-off fellow South Australian Beau Rossa ($12) by a head with the $3 favouriteĀ ToffaneĀ a half-length away third.
The honour roll of theĀ MemsieĀ is littered with some of the stars of the Australian turf including PharĀ Lap, Rising Fast, Galilee,Ā Manikato,Ā MakybeĀ Diva and So You Think.
Trainer David JollyĀ is in awe of Behemoth joining such big names.
“As a kid you’re in awe of those sort of horses,” Jolly said.
“He’s like a proper old-fashioned weight-for-age horse and it is beyond my wildest dreams.”
Jolly said he would need to talk to Sam LyonsĀ ofĀ Grand Syndications as to whether Behemoth could return to Caulfield for a second attempt at the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1100m)Ā on September 18.
Behemoth won the race last year with 60kgĀ but is likely to receive more weight this time around.
“I’ll discuss withĀ SamĀ and we’ll see what weight he gets, but he will probably go there,” Jolly said.
“I did say to Brett before the race that I don’t think he was at full fitness yet for the 1400 (metres). He’s probably got a bit to go and maybe that might have told on him late.
“We trained him a little bit that way because we’re only early in the spring, a bit like last timeĀ whenĀ I feel like his third run was his best,Ā and that’s going to happen (at his) third or fourth run this time.”
Prebble is starting to reap the benefits ofĀ theĀ hard work of recent months andĀ nowĀ shares the lead in the Melbourne Jockeys’ premiership following Saturday’s win.
The former leading jockey initially struggled on his return from Hong Kong and was happy to get the call up to rideĀ Behemoth.
“That’s racing and there’s highs and lows and I’ve had them all,” Prebble saidĀ of being Kah’s replacement.
“To be here today isĀ pretty special.
“It is easy to be a champion once, it is hard to be one multipleĀ timesĀ and this is what we all strive for.
“I’ve done the hard yards and I have worked forĀ it,Ā and it hasn’t come out of turn.”
