There was never going to be any David slaying the Goliath from South Australia ending to this story and Behemoth was simply too big and far too strong at Caulfield.
The David Jolly-trained giant is now unbeaten this campaign after successfully resuming in the G3 Spring S. at Morphettville and then claiming the G1 Memsie S. in dominant fashion at Caulfield and his return was just as emphatic.
Behemoth settled in the second division of the field and once rider Craig Williams, sporting the silks of Grand Syndicates, worked him into the clear in the straight he came with long strides to post the seventh victory of his 17-start career.
“Full credit to David Jolly and his team and Sam Lyons and Grand Syndicates who have all been so patient and now they are getting the results with this big fellow, who is so well named,” Williams said.
“He’s an awesome horse and makes my job so easy. I spoke to David and Sam this morning and they were full of confidence. His performance was excellent and we got a nice run and when he got clear running he really did launch late so credit to him.”
“His performance was excellent and we got a nice run and when he got clear running he really did launch late so credit to him.” – Craig Williams
Behemoth’s late surge took him 1l clear the post of Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}), who made all the play in front, and he boxed on strongly to finish second ahead of his half-sister and stablemate Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau).
The Lindsey Smith-prepared longshots Achernar Star (Gingerbread Man) and Reykjavik (Artie Schiller {USA}) were next to cross the line ahead of the 3-year-old Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who fought on strongly to be less than 2l off the winner.
It was Williams’s sixth win in the race which took his Group 1-winning tally to 61.
“It’s been a good race to me and a great race for my family, my Dad won it as a jockey and trainer and I’d like to thank all my team for all their support,” Williams said.
“I also want to thank all the people out there supporting racing through this pandemic. It’s been challenging times, especially in Victoria, and we’re still able to showcase these great thoroughbred athletes in a safe way.”
Topweight no issue
Behemoth was saddled with topweight and gave weight and a beating to all-comers, but Williams was far from surprised with the performance.
“Yes, he carried 60kg and the minimum in this race was 54kg so he had to do it really hard, but he was the best horse in the race and he warranted that weight,” he said.
“He’s doing a really good job and I’m just lucky to get to jump on him in race day. All the credit goes the people that are spending all the time to develop this big, raw talent.”
Behemoth winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S.
Behemoth was originally purchased out of Tyreel Stud’s draft at the Inglis Great Southern Sale for $120,000 by Heritage Bloodstock and then secured by Grand Syndicates for just $6000 at the Gold Coast National Yearling Sale where he was offered by Riversdale Stud.
They were willing to be forgiving for less than satisfactory x-ray reports and Behemoth has rewarded their approach with stake earnings now in excess of $1.6 million.
He is a son of the Listed Schweppervescence S. winner Penny Banger (Zedrich) and she is a half-sister to the stakes winner and G1 WATC Derby placegetter Mister Mix (Surtee).
Behemoth as a yearling
