Bargain buy Behemoth has produced a sensational finishing burst to win his second Gr1 of the spring carnival in Saturday’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.
Held up for a crucial period in the straight, Behemoth was able to unleash a stunning sprint over the final furlong to reel in the leader Dollar for Dollar and win softly in the end.
Saturday’s win was his second at the elite level following his previous start victory in the Gr1 Magic Millions Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
Behemoth ridden by Craig Williams wins the Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on September 19, 2020 in Caulfield, Australia. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)
The big striding son of All Too Hard is quickly becoming one of the most popular gallopers in the country and he’s developing into one of the all time great yearling sale buys in Australian history.
An A$6,000 buy at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in 2017, Behemoth is big in stature and he’s matching that with his first class race record.
Now a seven time winner and four time runner-up from just 17 lifetime starts, Behemoth has earned his Grand Syndicate ownership group over A$1.6 million already.
“Credit to David Jolly and his team and Sam Lyons and the Grand Syndicates team,” winning rider Craig Williams said.
“They’ve been so patient with the horse and they are now seeing the rewards with this big fella – he’s well named!”
“He’s an awesome horse and he made my job easier. His performance was excellent. He got a nice run and once we got clear running he really did launch late.”
“David Jolly has always felt he’s a better target horse. He was really good today – they’ve placed him so well.”
“He was the best horse in the race and he warranted the weight because the won a Group One weight-for-age race the start before,” Williams added.
Williams was quick to throw all credit to Jolly and his team back at Goolwa in South Australia for their expert handling of Behemoth – developing him from a big yearling to a genuine Group One star.
The second Gr1 winner for All Too Hard, Behemoth is from the stakes winning Zedrich mare Penny Banger – a listed winner as a juvenile at Flemington before being retired to stud.
Penny Banger is the dam of two winners and three placegetters and Behemoth is her clear pin up performer.
Winner: Behemoth
- Breeding: All Too Hard-Penny Banger (Zedrich)
- Race: MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes G1 (1400m)
- Sold for: A$6,000
- Sale: 2017 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
- Vendor: Riversdale (As Agent)
- Buyer: Grand Syndications
- Earnings: A$1,625,290
- 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)
