Behemoth propelled All Too Hard into the Top 5 of the Australian sires’ premiership after Arion released its first tables for 2020-21.

The Vinery Champion’s progeny have earned $461,395 a fortnight into the new season and he’s off to an even better start for individual winners.  Snitzel (17) leads that ladder from All Too Hard (15) and I Am Invincible (14).

Behemoth is a sleeping giant for All Too Hard.  Alligator Blood is his flag-bearer, and with good reason, but the Adelaide-based brute is looming large for big-mile missions at Caulfield and Flemington.

“That’s exactly what we wanted to see before we head to Melbourne,” trainer David Jolly declared after a dominant first-up victory in the Spring Stakes Gr.3 at Morphettville on Saturday.  “He’s come up really well and is more mature this prep.”

Behemoth finished fourth, beaten a length and change, in the $7.5million Golden Eagle at Rosehill last November and signed off the season with a flying fourth (from last of 14 on the corner) in the Goodwood Hcp Gr.1 at Morphettville in May.

“He just looks like he’s come back better again this campaign,” Jolly added.  “We only gave him the short break and it seems to have done him the world of good.

“Todd (Pannell) gave him the perfect ride on Saturday.  He lobbed in to a great spot.  The pace was solid and he was able to get the ideal drag into the race and let down really well.”

Jolly will wait for the dust to settle before deciding when Behemoth crosses the border.  “His next run will be in the Penny Edition Stakes here or the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield… Read more here.

Role Play is off to the paddock after her win in the Tuross Head Country Club Maiden (1310m) at Moruya on Sunday.

The Headwater filly rocketed down the outside rail for a one-length victory over One Man Band (Not A Single Doubt) and Think Rush (So You Think).  

“She will thrive with some warm weather on her back,” trainer Kerry Parker said.  “I haven’t been in a hurry but she’s done everything on her ear.  She’s progressive with a quick turn of foot and I’m looking forward to bringing her back in after a break.”

“She did a big job to win against older horses on Sunday and I thought she was over the odds at $6,” Parker said.

Role Play is the final foal from Real Pleasure (Octagonal) who was bred by Bob and Sandra Peters and sold at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Holbrook Thoroughbres (as agent).  

Headwater started this season’s good run on Saturday when Aquagirl (3f Galapagos Girl) was Stakes placed in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield, and he made it a winning double on Monday when Money in My Pocket scored first-up in the Polytrack Maiden Plate (1200m) at Ballarat.  “We’ve liked this filly all along,” trainer Mitch Freedman admitted.  “Her only other run was back in March but she didn’t like the tight circuit at Cranbourne.

“She has a ripper action and there’s more improvement to come.  She switches off and I can see her stretching out to 1400m and further down the track.”

Money in My Pocket (3f Headwater – Little Evie by Al Maher) is raced by a syndicate managed by Scott McQueen and she’s from a half-sister to Group 3 winners Bliss Street (Thousand Guineas Prelude) and Jade Marauder (Sweet Embrace Stakes)… Read more here.

Vinery Stud has circled the spring calendars for the launch of its freshman sire Star Turn and so has Team Hawkes with their $550,000 graduate from the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions.

The 2yo colt from Dukemore (Encosta de Lago) is bred to jump and run in time for the $160,000 Breeders’ Plate Gr.3 at Randwick on Saturday, October 3.

Trainer John Hawkes prepared Star Turn for a three-length debut win at Randwick as an October 2yo in 2015 and is very keen to see his colts and fillies kick-off early too.  “We have a few by Star Turn and it’s already obvious they want to be racehorses,” Hawkes said this week.  “He was a great racehorse and his young ones are lovely movers with the right attitude.”

Hawkes is particularly pleased with the chestnut colt from Dukemore. “He’s been in and out a couple of times and is back in work now,” Hawkes added.  “When I first saw him at the Glenlogan Park barn on the Gold Coast I said ‘Wow!”  He was an expensive yearling but we filled out the syndicate in next to no time.”

Team Hawkes also purchased the Star Turn filly from Miss Seton Sands (Gonski) for $200,000 on the Gold Coast.  

Chris Waller is training the Star Turn filly from Sanaya (More Than Ready) who has been named Headliner., who was purchased by Star Thoroughbreds for $170,000 on the Gold Coast.  Waller will give her every chance to be primed for the opening fillies race of the season in the $160,000 Gimcrack Stakes Gr.3 at Randwick on October 3.

Headliner is one of 32 Star Turn nominations for the 2021 Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1 at Rosehill on Saturday, March 22.

Star Turn’s first yearlings sold for 10 times his service fee at the 2020 majors and Vinery will stand him for $16,500 (inc GST) this year payable on a live foal…  Read more here.