Memsie Stakes: Brett Prebble seizes his opportunity as Behemoth goes back-to-back

Brett Prebble initially didn’t have a ride in the Memsie Stakes, but produced a tactical masterclass aboard Behemoth to win the Group 1 feature.

Brett Prebble rides Behemoth to back-to-back wins in the Memsie Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

An emotional Brett Prebble marked his Melbourne riding renaissance in trademark style, executing a tactically perfect ride to help Behemoth clinch back-to-back Group 1 Memsie Stakes.

Not bad for the jockey who woke up Friday without a ride in the first Group 1 of the Victorian season.

But the extraordinary shock unavailability of Jamie Kah, originally booked to ride Behemoth, would double as a well-earned and deserved sliding doors moment for Prebble.

The 43-year-old has spent the best part of 18 months, after more than a decade of brilliance in Hong Kong, riding at Victorian provincial tracks in pursuit of one intangible – a sense of belonging.

“I got the opportunity (to ride Behemoth) but you got to go out there and put your hand up,” a teary-eyed Prebble said.

“It’s a funny game back in Melbourne, same as Hong Kong, you go there with all the credentials you may have and you start afresh, that’s how I’ve felt here.

“It doesn't matter what you’ve done in the past you got to re-earn your stripes.

“The boys that have been here the last 10-15 years, while I’ve been away, they’ve been working hard and doing the hard yards and being successful … no reason to drop them and put Brett Prebble on.

“I thought go back to grassroots, I worked hard and that's how I’ve become successful.

“That’s racing. There’s highs and lows and I’ve had them all,” Prebble said.

“It’s easy to be a champion once, it’s hard to be one multiple times.

“This is what we all strive for. I’ve done the hard yards and I have worked hard for it, it hasn’t come out of turn.”

Behemoth defends his Memsie Stakes title at Caulfield. Picture: Getty Images

Incredibly, the win on the David Jolly-trained Behemoth not only iced Prebble’s comeback but sets up a tantalising spring for the instinctive master horseman who will ride fancied Incentivise in the Cups.

Behemoth jumped nicely and landed midfield in the $1m 1400m feature in a stalking position behind favourite Tofane.

As the speed relaxed Prebble took the opportunity to slide up alongside Craig Williams on Tofane to hold the Michael Moroney-trained mare in a pocket before shooting for home entering the straight.

“He gave me a real sweet ride until Craig was jostling around upfront,” Prebble said.

“I didn’t want to keep pulling the big horse around, I thought the tempo was nice, if I could creep (forward three wide) get a cheap 100m and get outside Craig.

“If I could get him in that zip lock I was going to do that, I did, and when I got him rolling he gave me a good feel, I thought he was going to give me a really good turn of foot but it died quickly actually.

“His toughness and grit got him home.”

South Australian rising star Beau Rossa finished strongly for second with Linda Meech, who replaced suspended jockey Ben Melham, ahead of Tofane and Kiwi visitor Aegon.

TAB BETTING WRAP

RACE 1

One of the better backed runners all day at Caulfield was Tooradin. The Team Maher & Eustace runner opened the day at $2.30 and bottomed out at $1.95 before jumping at even money. Holding a tick over half the money in the market, Tooradin got the day off to a great start for favourite backers.

BETS: Tooradin $2000 @ $2.30, $2069 @ $2.15, $2000 @ $2.

RACE 3

Turaath did the right thing by favourite backers by leading throughout in the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1400m). Although not as popular as the first fav of the day, Tooradin, this horse still held twice as much as the second pick Annavisto ($3.90-$6). TAB customers secured as much as $2 about the winner this morning but it was crunched into $1.60.

BETS: Turaath $3150 @ $1.95, $5000 @ $1.60.

RACE 4

It was an upset in the H.D.F McNeill Stakes (1200m) with Bruckner getting up at double figures. Although the Maher & Eustace galloper did firm from a peak of $14 at one stage today to start $11, he was largely overshadowed by Artorius, General Beau and Heresy ($4.80). Artorius was the popular with TAB customers, sending out the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained runner as $3 favourite with 49 per cent of the total investment on his back. General Beau ($3.50-$3.80-$3.60) had plenty of admirers and was next best backed outside of the fav.

BETS: Bruckner $1000 @ $11 TWICE; General Beau $5000 e/w @ $3.80/$1.50, $2500 @ $3.70; Artorius $2000 @ $3.20, $2000 @ $3, $1000 @ $3 MULTIPLE TIMES.

RACE 5

It was yet another heavily backed favourite with Masked Crusader flying home from last to win the The Heath (1100m). Opening the day at $1.75 and getting to $1.90, punters were very quick early in the week to take the $2.20 which was its opening price. Going around as one of the most popular horses across the country today, Masked Crusader held a whopping 55 per cent of the money in the race.

BETS: Masked Crusader $10,000 @ $1.85, $2787 @ $1.85, $2500 @ $1.85, $1500 @ $1.85.

RACE 6

Favourite backers were on good terms with themselves once more when Probabeel did the job in the W.W Cockram Stakes (1200m), going $2-$1.85-$1.90 on the day. Instant Celebrity ($3.90-$5-$4.40) which was the subject of a late rally.

BETS: Probabeel $10,000 @ $1.95, $3500 @ $1.95, $6322 @ $1.90, $5500 @ $1.90, $4000 @ $1.90, $2000 @ $1.90.

RACE 7

In a very open betting affair it was No Effort which led throughout to win the Tile Importer Heatherlie Stakes (1700m). At the start of the day $19 was available and the mare peaked at $23 before starting a $21 chance. Angel Of Truth ($5-$6) held the most money and was the only horse to reach six figures with TAB Fixed Odds. Tralee Rose ($9-$5.50-$6.50) was one of the more notable firmers.

BETS: No Effort $600 @ $21, $500 @ $21; Ziegfeld $1000 @ $4.80, $1000 @ $4.40; Bartholomeu Dias $2500 e/w @ $6/$2.20; Tralee Rose $1000 @ $7; Angel Of Truth $3000 @ $6.

RACE 8

Punters rallied for Behemoth today in the Moet & Chandon Memsie Stakes (1400m). The David Jolly runner peaked at $4.20 during the week but today was $3.90-$3-$3.20 and was too strong under Brett Prebble. He was the second most popular runner with Tofane ($4-$3) the only one holding more in stealing favouritism from the South Australian.

BETS: Behemoth $3000 @ $3.20, $2000 @ $3.20 TWICE, $2000 @ $3.10 MULTIPLE TIMES, $2000 @ $3; BETS: Tofane $5000 @ $3.20, $10,000 @ $3; Aegon $2000 @ $15; Streets Of Avalon $1500 @ $14.

RACE 9

Ayrton rounded off a day largely for favourites when powering home to take out the final event on the card. Crunched from $2.10 into $1.70, Ayrton attracted big bets and was the final leg of countless multis. Overall it held 35 per cent of the total investment.

BETS: Ayrton $4400 @ $2.20, $3000 @ $2.15, $3000 @ $2.10, $2000 @ $2.10, $3000 @ $2, $3300 @ $1.70, $3000 @ $1.70, $2800 @ $1.70, $2000 @ $1.70 MULTIPLE TIMES.

Originally published as Memsie Stakes: Brett Prebble seizes his opportunity as Behemoth goes back-to-back