Behemoth Stakes Tips Preview

Behemoth Stakes: tips and preview

BEHEMOTH STAKES - Morphettville, 1200m R8

The Behemoth Stakes, formerly known as the Spring Stakes but this year renamed in honour of the recent dual winner Behemoth, has long been a spring kick-off race for good South Australian horses. The weight-for-age conditions of the race suit those that might be otherwise weighted out of a handicap.

While this year’s race may not be a stellar edition, there are a few nice types here that will be worth monitoring.

See You In Heaven is the early favourite, and it will be good to see her return. She won a Group race on debut at Flemington as a two-year-old, one of three black type wins in her juvenile season, and took out the Sandown Guineas at the tail-end of last spring. Her autumn was good without winning, running second as favourite in both outings.

Richard and Chantelle Jolly will no doubt be hoping their now four-year-old mare will measure up to Group 1 company at some stage this spring, and would like to see her win this to provide some confirmation.

Belle Et Riche is another smart mare, that will be looking to keep the favourite honest. She strung together a good run of form in benchmark races last summer, before placing at Group 3 level before a spell. She’s first-up off a six month break, and if she’s improved as she might, is capable of taking this out.

There are always a few hardy veterans in this type of race, and we have exactly that here with Savtoxl, Ironclad and Calypso Reign.

Savtoxl, who does have a Group 1 win to his name, has been going back and forth between Adelaide and the Northern Territory this year, winning in both places. He’s coming off a third in Darwin last start, after a disappointing run in the Goodwood back in May. He does tend to mix his form a bit these days, but is more than up to winning this.

Ironclad resumes after only two runs so far in 2023, both of them below expectation. It’s possible Father Time has caught up with the aging galloper, but Will Clarken knows the horse well, and in partnership now with Niki O’Shea must be happy with how he is training on. 1200m might be a bit short for him first-up though.

Calypso Reign won this race last year, and is back to defend his title. He was in a purple patch of form leading into that win, but hasn’t claimed victory in a race since. He’s another coming off a poor run in autumn, having his campaign aborted early, and we get to see if he can strike back now.

Of the others, Picargo has claims at double figure odds. He could be this year’s Calypso Reign, fit, in-form and winning races at a lower level but ready to step up. He’s drawn awkwardly, but should be able to push across with Belle Et Riche and take a sit of the likely leader Savatoxl. The question will be whether those three can then hold off the favourite, who will be charging home late.

Selections: 1.See You In Heaven 2.Savatoxl 3.Belle Et Riche 4.Picargo