A tricky gate and the forecast of a wet Melbourne has David Jolly cautiously optimistic ahead of Saturday’s $5m All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley.
Behemoth has drawn the inside barrier one and finds himself a $14 chance with tab.com.au behind Australasia’s two best race mares, Arcadia Queen ($3.40) and Probabeel ($4.20).
“Like anyone, it’s always the one barrier you probably don’t want,” Jolly said of barrier one.
“But in saying that he loves to get a smother, so hopefully he can good a good run just behind them fourth or fifth on the fence.”
The Bureau Of Meteorology is predicting between eight to 15mm of rainfall on Saturday morning which could provide another negative.
“I guess the main concern is the fact they are going to get some rain,” Jolly said.
“It’s probably the one track that doesn’t really cope that well when it gets a lot of water, so hopefully we’re not bogged down in the worst part of the track come race time.”
The one big tick for Behemoth is Jolly is confident the horse returns to Melbourne at his top after running fourth behind New Zealand mare Probabeel in the Futurity Stakes last time out.
“He’s really well, he had another jump-out on Tuesday and that should have really topped him off nice for this,’’ Jolly said.
“I’ve done a few things differently going into the All-Star Mile.
“It’s three weeks between runs and he was probably a touch underdone going to the Futurity, so I’ve been able to put the work into much like I did leading into the two Group 1 wins back in the spring.”
Fellow South Australian Regalo Di Gaetano drew well in barrier six with Luke Nolen booked to ride. The Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained gelding will jump the outsider of the field, currently marked a $151 chance.