While the eastern seaboard stars shone during the week at barrier trials, a giant of a horse snuck onto the quiet grounds at Balaklava and roared around.
Giants of the turf like NATURE STRIP, his stablemate VERRY ELLEEGANT, and the Team Hawkes pair MASTER OF WINE plus ZEBROWSKI all trialled like they will win major spring races.
Especially Nature Strip and Master Of Wine.
But, at Balaklava this morning in South Australia, away from all the lights, and media attention, the hulking 17hh sprinter BEHEMOTH (All Too Hard-Penny Banger) stepped out in a 6-horse trial over 1000m.
Normally a come-from-last sprinter, he sat just behind the speed and was cantering as he reached the line over 2 lengths clear in a speedy 57.90sec.
When last in work he placed at stakes level behind Jungle Edge and was a powerful finishing 4th in the Gr 1 The Goodwood at Morphettville over 1200m.
He was 14th for home and wound up just 2 lengths behind TREKKING that afternoon.
It gave note that he would be a star next campaign.
Well, this is next campaign.
