With the late scratching of Dalasan, expectations were that Saturday's Group III Spring Stakes at Morphettville was a match race between Behemoth and Beau Rossa, and that was the way it played out. Still, this was destined to be decided in the steward's room.
Controlling the race from the front, Beau Rossa was first across the line, but it was not a surprise to many when Kayla Crowther on Behemoth lodged an objection.
Beau Rossa twice shifted several horses out, hampering Behemoth. The stewards spent little time in upholding the protest to give Behemoth his seventh stakes success.
"It was a great race, and there was not much in it, but you would prefer to in it on the track, winning trainer David Jolly said.
"He was made to earn it, so credit to Beau Rossa because Behemoth has been around the block, and we know what he can do."
Behemoth is expected to have his next start in $750,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 28, where he will be the defending champion.
The dual Group 1 winner advances his record to nine wins, four seconds, and a third from 23 starts with earnings of $2,616,625.
Bred by Walings Bloodstock, Behemoth was a bargain-basement $6,000 purchase by Grand Syndicates out of the Riversdale draft at the 2017 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
The son of All Too Hard had previously made $120,000 to the bid of Heritage Bloodstock out of the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2016 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
Behemoth is the best of two winners from five to race out of the stakes-winning Zedrich mare Penny Banger, a half-sister to the Listed stakes-winner and Group 1 WATC Derby third Master Minx (Surtee).
The final foal of Penny Banger is a 4yo Scissor Kick mare Danny's Sparkle. Purchased by Dalziel Bloodstock / Peter Moody Racing / Mitch Freedman Racing for $85,000 at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Danny's Sparkle has not been seen out since finishing second at her career debut at Echuca on July 26 last year.
All Too Hard stands at Vinery Stud, where his 2021 fee is set at $33,000.
