Hulking South Australian star Behemoth returns to Caulfield Racecourse second-up on Saturday as favourite in Memsie Stakes 2021 betting to successfully defend his title in the opening Group 1 of the season in Melbourne.

Behemoth returns to defend his title in Saturday’s 2021 Memsie Stakes in Melbourne. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

Following on from Sydney’s Winx Stakes won by Mo’unga last weekend, the elite level racing for the spring moves to Victoria this weekend with a dozen stars facing off in the weight-for-age Group 1 $1 million Moet & Chandon Memsie Stakes (1400m).

David Jolly’s All Too Hard gelding, Behemoth saluted for the punters as the $3.30 favourite in last year’s Memsie Stakes results before backing-up to carry 60kg to victory next-up in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

The now six-year-old looks set for similar heights this campaign having narrowly won the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1200m) first-up at Morphettville, the same race he won on way to his 2020 Memsie victory.

Latest Memsie Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Behemoth (barrier nine) installed as the $4.20 favourite to go back-to-back in the event for the first time since the mighty mare Sunline (2000, 2001).

Hot on the defending champion’s heels occupying the second line of Memsie Stakes betting at $4.50 is the returning Michael Moroney-trained Tofane in gate four with Craig Williams to ride.

The Kiwi-bred Ocean Park mare was excellent in Brisbane over the winter taking out the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap – Tattersall’s Tiara double over the 1400m.

She is yet to win first-up from five attempts, but remains the class danger over the distance.

There are a further three other runners under double-figures in the Memsie Stakes odds including the consistent Inspiration Girl ($7) in gate three with Damian Lane to ride.

Danny O’Brien’s six-year-old Reliable Man mare remains lightly-raced boasting nine wins and three minor placings from her 12 career starts having raced exclusively in Perth until now.

She was outstanding last summer winning the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) before her second to Truly Great in the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes (1800m), but hasn’t raced since that December run at Ascot.

Aegon ($9.50) and the rails-drawn Beau Rossa ($9.50) present as the other most likely winners according to the bookies

New Zealand-trained Sacred Falls gelding Aegon, winner of the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) last November, travelled to Australia undefeated and won his sixth on the trot at Rosehill in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) in February.

The winning streak ended when he finished sixth in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) in March, while it was a disappointing 12^th in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) that finished his autumn.

Fresh over 1400m the Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained galloper gets the chance to atone in the Memsie and return to better form.

Beau Rossa has Linda Meech in the saddle, Will Clarken’s visiting Adelaide-trained Unencumbered four-year-old bringing with him the Spring Stakes form having run a devastatingly close second to Behemoth on August 14.

Smart Godolphin-raced mare Colette ($10) in the outside alley is on the drift, while the early Memsie Stakes market mover chasing a third win on the trot is recent Mildura Cup – P.B. Lawrence Stakes winning mare Sierra Sue ($10) for Trent Bussutin and Natalie Young.

Click here for the latest Memsie Stakes 2021 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 Memsie Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.