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Behemoth’s giant quest to go one better starts today

The unlucky runner in last year’s Goodwood will step up his crusade to go one better in 2020 at today’s Morphettville trials.

Behemoth finished a narrow second behind Despatch in the 2019 edition of SA’s headline race, after enduring a chequered path up the Morphettville straight.

Local trainer David Jolly’s stable star had five more starts in 2019, culminating in a brave fourth in the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle (1400m) at Rosehill in November. David says this morning’s trial will form part of the four-year-old gelding’s lead-up to the 1200m Furphy Goodwood on Saturday, May 16.

“We’ll look at running him in the McKay Stakes (1100m) and then the Goodwood,” he said.

“The original plan was to take him to Queensland after that, but that’s been swung around a bit. So, he’ll probably have the two runs, then have a freshen-up for spring.”

The Golden Eagle was taken out by Kolding, which overcame SA star Sunlight close to home. Mizzy edged Behemoth out of third by a nose – a remarkable effort by the Adelaide visitor given his wide passage throughout the 1500m race and less-than-ideal preparation.

“Yeah, it was a big run,” David said.

“But he actually had a foot issue for most of the week before it. He had an abscess that burst out, so it wasn’t smooth sailing.

“But he’s a very talented horse and obviously he was a bit unlucky in last year’s Goodwood.

“He’s had a good break now and he’s a little bit more mature.”

While Behemoth – which won the Listed Penny Edition over 1400m at Morphettville Parks in August – will lead the stable’s 2020 Adelaide Autumn Carnival campaign, David says the promising Lakhani Rose could also bob up at some stage, after running home well for second behind Sizzlefly at Morphettville on Saturday.

“There weren’t making much ground away from the fence and it was her first-up run for a few weeks,” he said.

“So, we might dip our toe in the water with her in a better race.

“She’ll probably run on May 2 – we might put a cheeky nom in for the Sangster (TAB Classic over 1200m) but she’s probably more likely to run in a lesser race on that day.

“Maybe something like the Proud Miss might be her target (on May 16). If we’re careful with her now, she might still have some gas in the tank.”

David said lightly raced 3YO Calypso Reign could run in the Redelva Stakes on Saturday week.

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