Memsie Stakes: Brett Prebble replaces Jamie Kah on favourite Behemoth

More than 30 jockeys and their managers pursued the ride on Memsie Stakes favourite Behemoth following Jamie Kah’s shock suspension.

Brett Prebble will replace Jamie Kah on Behemoth in the Memsie Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

The best part about the circumstances behind Brett Prebble replacing Jamie Kah aboard Behemoth is the reigning Memsie Stakes winner and favourite will be none the wiser on Saturday at Caulfield.

The same cannot be said for devoted trainer David Jolly and managing owner Sam Lyons, of Grand Syndicates, after fielding numerous calls about the shock vacancy.

Kah was sensationally ruled out for 14 days initially – now three months – at about 9pm on Thursday after being implicated in an alleged illegal gathering at a house in Mornington.

The phones of both Jolly and Lyons rang relentlessly thereafter.

Twenty-five missed calls and messages later – on each phone undoubtedly – revealed the extent of what led to Kah becoming unavailable.

More than 30 jockeys and their respective managers made pitches to the pair to ride Behemoth.

But the availability of champion jockey Prebble, who has been in ripping nick recently, turned an unfortunate situation into a relatively easy decision in the end.

“Obviously, not ideal circumstances … but certainly having to make a late call, I don’t think you could really hope for too many better than Brett Prebble,” Lyons said.

“He’s very hungry at the moment, well and truly proven, hopefully we can be part of his resurgence now back in Australia and he deserves to be with the best riders.

“Hopefully, we can play a real part of that journey with him.”

Behemoth won the Memsie Stakes last year with Craig Williams. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Behemoth could not be in any better shape going into the Memsie defence after winning – on protest – first-up in Adelaide.

The two-time winner was beaten a lip on the line – after striking interference from Beau Rossa.

The South Australian duo will square off again at Caulfield on Saturday.

“He’s had a really good lead-up, faultless, coming in, basically a steady climb exactly where we want him,” Lyons said.

“It’s nice to be coming back and defending a Group 1 crown to be honest.

“You were happy to win one last year and happy again, coming back to the same distance and race, the pressure is on a little more than last year.

“The good thing is you know the horse can do it and there’s a good feeling going in, for sure.”

Prebble has ridden nine winners, including five in the town, this season in 40 starts.

The 43-year-old must navigate a stick draw on Saturday but Behemoth should appreciate a strongly run 1400m.

“If they run along and he can be not too far away, chasing a nice tempo, I think he (Behemoth) becomes really hard to beat,” Lyons said.

“Everything has been spot on, we haven’t had an abyss, haven’t missed a days’ work, it’s been really good and I think you need that, at a minimum, to be winning these races.”

Originally published as Memsie Stakes: Brett Prebble replaces Jamie Kah on favourite Behemoth