Crowther Rewarded with Behemoth Group Ride

Jockey Kayla Crowther will be given the ride on Gr1 winner Behemoth (All Too Hard-Penny Banger, by Zedrich) in Saturday's Gr3 Spring Stakes at Morphettville as a reward for her behind-the-scenes work, reports racing.com. "I'm really excited to have Kayla riding him because she's done a lot of work behind the scenes on him and she's only had the one race ride on him," trainer David Jolly said. "(Regular rider) Todd (Pannell) is required for a horse of Will's (Clarken) in that race so it gave Kayla an opportunity. She was pretty happy (after the trial) at Balaklava and she thought he moved well again today, his action was good." Jolly advised, "He hasn't had a lot of galloping this time in - probably only three gallops and the trial - but he's carrying a little bit of residual fitness from the Goodwood and he's done a lot of beach work as well. He trialled on a heavy track on Monday but he probably didn't do a lot, he had a fairly easy time so I just thought if he had a little gallop here and a bit of travel, it would top him off nicely and I won't have to bother him too much in the lead up to the race." Behemoth last raced in the Gr1 Goodwood Handicap, and has a record of eight wins from 22 starts and earnings over $2.5 million. Last spring, he won the Gr3 Spring Stakes before winning the Gr1 Memsie and Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in succession.