BEHEMOTH
A South Australian star, Behemoth achieved dual Spring and Memsie Stakes victories
Behemoth was initially sold at the 2016 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale for A$120,000. At the 2017 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Behemoth was purchased by his current owners, Grand Syndicates for just $6,000. By All To Hard via dam Penny Banger (Zedrich), Behemoth thrived throughout his handling and prep, as he began to fill his frame and became a quick learner and eager to please. Behemoth arrived at the Goolwa stables of Dave Jolly at the age of two, having undergone gelding in Queensland prior to his relocation. Behemoth was an amazing athlete during his career, he won multiple Group 1s and was twice named South Australian Horse of the Year.
Behemoth made his race debut at Balaklava on the 20 June 2018, where he finished in fifth position. He had one more start as a two-year-old finishing second at Gawler. On 6 November 2018, Behemoth won his first race when resuming as a three-year-old at Morphettville.
Three weeks later, he was successful again when winning comfortably at Moonee Valley. He sat back in the six-horse field but worked into the race before the turn and sprinted clear to win by a margin of 3.5 lengths. In May 2019, Behemoth contested his first Group 1 race in The Goodwood at Morphettville. Despite it being only his seventh career start, Behemoth charged home late to run into second place, beaten only by a narrow margin.
In August 2019, Behemoth won the Listed Penny Edition Stakes at Morphettville Parks. His only other win as a four-year-old was on the 2 May 2020, in the D. C. McKay Stakes at Morphettville. Although finishing second on race day behind veteran galloper Jungle Edge, some months later Jungle Edge was disqualified from the race after a prohibited substance was found in his system. Behemoth was promoted to first position.
A year later in August 2020, Behemoth won the Spring Stakes at Morphettville. On the 29 August 2020, Behemoth started favourite in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Given a positive ride by Craig Williams, Behemoth gave nothing else a chance in recording a dominant one and a half length win over the Queensland Derby winner Mr Quickie. It was the first Group 1 in 18 years for Behemoth's trainer David Jolly, and the 60th for jockey Williams. Three weeks later, Behemoth made it back-to-back Group 1 victories in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield when carrying top-weight of 60kg.
Behemoth was then selected to run in The Everest at Randwick, where he finished in 10th position behind Classique Legend. Behemoth won his next start in January 2021 in the Durbridge Stakes. Behemoth was second past the post in the 2021 Spring Stakes beaten a nose margin, however was awarded the race on protest, after suffering interference from Beau Rossa 150 metres out from the winning post. In August 2021, Behemoth became the first horse since Sunline in 2001, to win back-to-back Memsie Stakes. Ridden by Brett Prebble, he defeated Beau Rossa with Tofane running in third position. The 2021 Memsie Stakes would prove to be Behemoth's final victory. He had three runs as a six-year-old, finishing unplaced in all three. His final race start was a seventh placing in the 2022 Manikato Stakes. Behemoth was retired to Living Legends, a property for retired champion racehorses.
RACE RECORD - 32: 10-5-1
EARNINGS - A$3,291,055
D. C. McKay Stakes (2020)
Spring Stakes (2020, 2021)
Memsie Stakes (2020, 2021)
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (2020)