Behemoth laid claims for a last-minute slot in the $15m TAB Everest after his slashing Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes win at Caulfield on Saturday.
Jolly and connections remain open to talks with perspective slot holders after he stormed over the top of rivals to record his second successive Group 1 victory.
But any thoughts of dropping back in distance and heading to Sydney would need to happen quickly with the horse otherwise heading for the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over a mile at Caulfield on October 10.
Behemoth’s win was the icing on a magic day for the Goolwa horseman after a double in Adelaide.
Paul Gatt produced a perfectly timed ride to get Thompson’s Reward home in the last while exciting mare Lakhani Rose appears poised for a big preparation after she defied her trainers pre-race queries first-up from a spell with Sophie Logan in the saddle.
In the saddle, it was SA’s two premier riders who stole the show.
Jason Holder and Todd Pannell shared riding honours after his bold front running ride aboard Snitzkraft in the $100,000 TAB W H Wylie Stakes.
Holder went into the feature chasing his fourth win for the day aboard red hot favourite Garner but was caught wide as Pannell rated the leader to perfection.
It was the second leg of a double for Pannell in combination with the Phillip Stokes stable after promising filly Quietly Discreet made amends for a disappointing first-up run to win in style early in the day.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
VANCOUVER VELVET (Race 2)
Nice effort behind Quietly Discreet first-up from a break.
SHAMINO (Race 8)
Slashing effort behind stablemate Snitzkraft in the Wylie and looks in for another big campaign.
ONE MORE JACK (Race 9)
Big effort to narrowly go down after being caught wide at his first run back.
