Ladbrokes Tip: The Behemoth Stakes (SAJC Spring Stakes) runs in the winter each August and is an important event for returning spring hopefuls.
The latest edition of the SAJC Spring Stakes took place on Saturday, August 9, 2025 as the opening Group race in Adelaide for the new racing season and is known as the Behemoth Stakes and saw Queman ($8.50) post his first win since the 2024 Oakleigh Plate.
2025 Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Results
The Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) 2025 results and full finishing order of the winter sprint will be published below once the race is run and won on Saturday, August 9, 2025 .
- 1st: #1 Queman
- 2nd: #2 Recommendation
- 3rd: #7 Lingani
Queman ($8.50) made a triumphant return to racing in the 2025 Group 3 Behemoth Stakes results at Morphettville, overcoming a 468-day layoff due to a sesamoid injury with a gutsy front-running performance under jockey Connor Murtagh. Settling beautifully in the lead after a patient ride, Queman held off a strong late challenge from Recommendation to win by a neck, marking his 10th career victory and surpassing $1 million in prizemoney.
The win was a deeply emotional moment for trainers Shane and Cassie Oxlade and their team, who had meticulously prepared the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner with multiple trials and jumpouts. While 1200m isn’t his ideal trip, Queman’s toughness and class shone through, making this comeback nearly as significant as his Group 1 triumph. Potential next targets could include stepping back up in distance or aiming for higher-grade spring features, depending on how he pulls up and progresses in coming weeks.
2025 Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Odds
Stay tuned for the full Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) 2025 betting markets and links to the final acceptors to be published below once odds are released.
| 1. Queman (5) J: Connor Murtagh 58.5kg 1170xT: Shane & Cassie Oxlade | ||
| 2. Recommendation (1) J: Jake Toeroek 58.5kg x6835T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Lingani (3) J: Taylor Johnstone 56.5kg 9x491T: Peter & Belinda Blanch | ||
| 3. Is It Me (6) J: Dean Yendall 58.5kg 6111xT: Daniel Bowman | ||
| 9. Cicala (4) J: Rochelle Milnes 56.5kg 111T: Will Clarken | ||
| 6. Wild Imagination (7) J: Alana Livesey 56.5kg 218x7T: David Page | ||
| 8. Sixteen Reasons (2) J: Kayla Crowther 56.5kg 43x13T: Will Clarken |
The Spring Stakes – now run as the Behemoth Stakes – is a 1200m sprint race contested at Morphettville Racecourse in mid-August each year by the South Australian Jockey Club (SAJC) and is not to be confused with the Newcastle Jockey Club’s 3YO Spring Stakes race held in November.
A key lead-up into the bigger and better races of the upcoming Spring Racing Carnivals, the weight-for-age event currently offers $150,000 in prize money.
Contested on the same date as Sydney’s Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m), the SAJC Spring Stakes race was first run in 1970.
Having taken place in September prior to 2006, it is now the opening Group race held in Adelaide for the new racing season.
From 1979–1997 the race held Group 2 status before being demoted to a Group 3 event from 1998 onwards.
A number of nice horses have won the SAJC Spring Stakes over the years including triple champion Redelva (1988-90) who went on to win the following year’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes in Melbourne, and recent two-time winner Behemoth (2020-21) who the race was renamed in honour of in 2023.
Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Race Info
- Current Race Name: Behemoth Stakes (since 2023)
- Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
- Track: Morphettville Racecourse
- Distance: 1200m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $150,000
- First Run: 1970
Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Betting
Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) betting is traditionally led by resuming spring-bound sprinters proven in tougher grade races.
Any horses that contested previous editions of the event sit high up the Spring Stakes odds each season, as do past Group 1 performers down in grade for their spring campaign kick-offs.
Locally-trained, older runners dominate the markets and have an outstanding recent strike-rate.
Behemoth ($2.50 in 2020 and $1.65 in 2021) followed by See You In Heaven ($2.15 in 2023 and $3.30 in 2024) are the latest favourite in Spring Stakes / Behemoth Stakes betting to win.
Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Field
The Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) race field attracts both end-of-season winter runners as well as spring-bound hopefuls kicking off the new season campaigns.
The Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) nominations are taken the Monday of race week with final acceptances closing on the Wednesday.
2025 Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Field
The official Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) 2025 final field of sprinters is announced the Wednesday of race week and will be updated below once confirmed.
The 2025 Behemoth Stakes final field attracted 10 runners led in betting by Will Clarken’s undefeated mare Cicala.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Queman
J: Connor Murtagh
T: Shane & Cassie Oxlade |
71170x | G | 5 | 58.5kg | |
|
2. Recommendation
J: Jake Toeroek
T: Ciaron Maher |
0x6835 | G | 1 | 58.5kg | |
|
3. Is It Me
J: Dean Yendall
T: Daniel Bowman |
46111x | G | 6 | 58.5kg | |
| 4. Dubai Poet (3) Scratched: | |||||
| 5. Metrical (9) Scratched: | |||||
|
6. Wild Imagination
J: Alana Livesey
T: David Page |
1218x7 | M | 7 | 56.5kg | |
|
7. Lingani
J: Taylor Johnstone
T: Peter & Belinda Blanch |
19x491 | M | 3 | 56.5kg | |
|
8. Sixteen Reasons
J: Kayla Crowther
T: Will Clarken |
243x13 | M | 2 | 56.5kg | |
|
9. Cicala
J: Rochelle Milnes
T: Will Clarken |
111 | M | 4 | 56.5kg | |
| 10. Silver Cliff (8) Scratched: | |||||
2025 Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Nominations
Early nominations for the Behemoth Stakes 2025 race at Morphettville close the Monday of race week.
Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Tips
Top Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) tips include looking for runners with a strong record over the distance (1200m), locally-trained Adelaide runners with a good strike-rate at the Morphettville track and Black-Type graduates coming off good lead-up winter runs.
Backing the male gallopers is another solid Spring Stakes betting tip as Beirut (2016) and See You In Heaven (2023) are the only mares to beat home the boys in the event since 2015, while no filly has been successful since Hartbalm (1977).
Another key Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) tip is to get behind any in-form runner prepared by Leon Macdonald who has won the event five times with Will Fly (1998), Spice Doll (2000), El Maze (2008), Rebel Raider (2010), and most recently Dalasan (2019).
David Jolly meanwhile prepared three straight winners from 2020-22.
2025 Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Tips
Our insider tips on the Behemoth Stakes in 2025 will be published below once the field and form guide are released.
- To Win: #3 Is It Me ($4.40 at time of publish) – BET NOW
There’s an undefeated mare leading the markets but siding with a first-up win by the older and super-consistent IS IT ME (7). Daniel Bowman’s six-year-old gelding may be seeing the Morphettville track for the first time, but he’s proven over the distance (4:1-1-1) and further so the 1200m fresh looks spot-on. He’s got previous winning form first-up and was on fire back in the summer-autumn winning three on the trot before going out to the paddock. At his latest he won the Group 3 Shaftesbury Ave Handicap at HQ by nearly four lengths. Before that he carted 60kg at the same track and trip (1400m) so the WFA allocation this weekend is manageable. The in-form Dean Yendall comes aboard for the ride in another tick, he gets conditions to suit and think he can get the job done to kick off another campaign.
Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) Form Guide
The Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) form guide, released when final acceptances close on the Wednesday before the race runs that Saturday, details crucial information like the jockeys and barriers as well as the lead-up runs of the sprinters in the field.
The Spring Stakes form has stacked up in future interstate Spring Racing Carnival races a number of times in recent years.
In 2018 the SAJC Spring Stakes winner Dollar For Dollar (2018) finished second in that year’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m). He would also continue on to finish third in the next year’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in Brisbane.
In 2019, the Spring Stakes winner Dalasan headed to Melbourne next-up and saluted in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington Racecourse. Dalasan was also runner-up in the 2020 Group 1 SA Derby, further franking the form. Scales Of Justice meanwhile improved on his 2019 Spring Stakes second to win Caulfield’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) next start.
The following year the 2020 Spring Stakes winner Behemoth went on to complete the Memsie Stakes – Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes double in Melbourne.
Behemoth also won the 2021 Spring Stakes on protest and continued on to also successfully defend his Memsie Stakes title having earlier run third in that autumn’s then $5 million The All-Star Mile.
2025 Behemoth Stakes Form Guide
A link to our complete 2025 Behemoth Stakes Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Spring Stakes / Behemoth Stakes Results
There has been four multiple SAJC Spring Stakes winners throughout history: Samist (1974-75); Redelva (1988-90); Hero Wind (1994, 1995, 1997); and most recently Behemoth (2020-21).
Behemoth (2020 and 2021) was the last horse to complete the Spring Stakes – Memsie Stakes double.
Behemoth won his second title in 2021 on protest after originally being second past the post behind Beau Rossa who was subsequently demoted to runner-up.
Sky Cuddle holds the current 1200m SAJC Sprint Stakes race record winning in a time of 1 minute 9.64 seconds in 2004.
Other noteworthy Spring Stakes winners include: Toltrice (1973), Flavour (2001), Super Elegant (2005), Royal Ida (2006), Rebel Raider (2010), Happy Trails (2012), and Dalasan (2019).
See You In Heaven (2023 & 2024) was the last mare to win when taking out the first official running of the renamed Behemoth Stakes and then defending her title 12 months on.
SAJC Spring Stakes / Behemoth Stakes Winners
Spring Stakes / Behemoth Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to 1970 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2025 | Queman | Recommendation | Lingani |
| 2024 | See You In Heaven | My Khalifa | Air Assault |
| 2023 | See You In Heaven | Savatoxl | Manhatten Times |
| 2022 | Calypso Reign | Pindaric | Pimm’s Party |
| 2021 | Behemoth (On Protest) | Beau Rossa | Ritratto |
| 2020 | Behemoth | Dalasan | Kemalpasa |
| 2019 | Dalasan | Scales Of Justice | Waging War |
| 2018 | Dollar For Dollar | Hard Empire | Inn Keeper |
| 2017 | Mio Dio | Lord Aspen | Casino Wizard |
| 2016 | Beirut | Riziz | Rocket Commander |
| 2015 | Red Eclipse | Whitlam | Richie’s Vibe |
| 2014 | Riziz | Light It Up | Karacatis |
| 2013 | Just Discreet | Meliora | Golden Penny |
| 2012 | Happy Trails | Gossip Girl | Southern Speed |
| 2011 | Uxorious | Periduki | Valentine Miss |
| 2010 | Rebel Raider | Xaieta | Likable Will |
| 2009 | Midnight Mustang | Magical Pearl | Cerberus Gal |
| 2008 | El Maze | Sensational Toy | Niconero |
| 2007 | Zupaone | Amyjaye Power | El Maze |
| 2006 | Royal Ida | Shablec | Bruges |
| 2005 | Super Elegant | Fly For Me | Squillani |
| 2004 | Sky Cuddle | Squillani | Zip Zip Aray |
| 2003 | Squillani | Nadema | Lawsons Storm |
| 2002 | Strategic Image | Romilada | Star Hit |
| 2001 | Flavour | Spice Doll | Star Hit |
| 2000 | Spice Doll | Hand Pass | Euclase Pat |
| 1999 | Star Joe | Sports | Lake Villa |
| 1998 | Will Fly | Astralita | Madonna |
| 1997 | Hero Wind | Port Watch | Minegold |
| 1996 | Staaraq | Hero Wind | Buzzoff |
| 1995 | Hero Wind | Blue Boss | Scrupulous |
| 1994 | Hero Wind | Rubique | Subastral |
| 1993 | Colebrook | Rubique | Game Ginty |
| 1992 | Black Rouge | Dark Ksar | Squire Gray |
| 1991 | Beau George | Feeling | Bar Flyer |
| 1990 | Redelva | Dancers Choice | Godemus |
| 1989 | Redelva | Pressmans Choice | Prince Anton |
| 1988 | Redelva | Lockleys Tradition | Eastern Classic |
| 1987 | Change Of Habit | Baptize | French Cotton |
| 1986 | Romantic Red | Lord Galaxy | Wild Rampage |
| 1985 | Trichelle | Belcunda | Arctic Wolf |
| 1984 | Gold Kildare | Copper Rocket | To The Wind |
| 1983 | Belcunda | Galleon | Goldwood |
| 1982 | Oriental Ruler | Harpagus | Pure Of Heart |
| 1981 | Bargambler | Bold Prospect | Ducatoon |
| 1980 | Rumpus Room | Ranger’s Son | Blue And White |
| 1979 | Court Sabre | Atropine | Panamint |
| 1978 | Pelican Point | Bonfield | Double East |
| 1977 | Hartbalm | Raffindale | Tetranate |
| 1976 | Classic Conquest | Silent Gift | How Now |
| 1975 | Samist | Kymwood | Quaffable |
| 1974 | Samist | Storm Duke | Celestial Choice |
| 1973 | Toltrice | Eleazar | Samist |
| 1972 | High Gypsy | Crown | Mikado |
| 1971 | Romantic Son | Eastern Court | Lancelot |
| 1970 | Eastern Court | Eleazar | Tutuila |
FAQ
Who won the 2025 Behemoth Stakes?
The 2025 Behemoth Stakes was won by seven-year-old Mint Lane gelding Queman at $8.50 for trainers Shane & Cassie Oxlade with jockey Connor Murtagh aboard on 58.5kg from barrier 5 to win by 0.26 lengths on a Soft (6) track in a time of 1:11.61.
When is the Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) 2025?
Saturday, August 9, 2025What is the prize money for the Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) 2025?
$150,000
Where is the Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) 2025?
Morphettville Racecourse, 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043.
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How do I bet on the 2025 Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes)?
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Which horse will win the 2025 Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes)?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Behemoth Stakes (Spring Stakes) is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.