09-08-2025
Oakleigh Plate winner Queman staves off rival for gutsy Group 3 Behemoth Stakes win
A lion-hearted Queman scored a remarkable win in Saturday's Group 3 Behemoth Stokes, as Shane and Cassie Oxlade pulled off an outstanding training performance at Morphettville.
The Group 1-winning Queman hadn't raced for 468 days due to a sesamoid injury prior to Saturday's first-up test, but dug deep to fend off a determined Recommendation, holding on by a neck.
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Emotional spilt over in the Morphettville mounting yard post-race, there were hugs and cheers, as nearly 16 months worth of patience paid off.
'I'm pretty proud of the horse to be honest. 1200m. I was worried, because he just likes to get up and get going,' Shane Oxlade said.
'Any other horse, (they) would've done more than enough (work) to run 1200m, we've had four jumpouts and trials, but I just thought he might get up trucking.
'But he settled beautiful in front, I said to Connor (Murtagh), 'don't chase him out of the gates, just leave him alone, he'll get up and get travelling'.
'He looked vulnerable but, geez, he's a tough bugger. It's been a long time, 69 weeks, he's been in work a long time, I'm just proud of the horse.
'Cass, Lauren (Stojakovic), big shout out to Lauren, she does all the work and she knows him better than anyone, when she comes back and says everything's fine – you're pretty happy.'
Queman's last two wins, the Oakleigh Plate and Behemoth, have provided Oxlade and connections with moments of pure euphoria.
While a Behemoth win isn't as notable as that Group 1 triumph, the tough road travelled to get there made it almost as significant.
'You win a Group 1, you win any race, it's great,' he said.
'To bring him back after 69 weeks, back at home, to do that at 1200m, out of his comfort zone first-up … I'm pretty rapt to be honest.'
Oxlade credited the unwavering patience of owner-breeder Francis 'Boof' Smith, while Queman's 10th career win, which takes him over $1m in prizemoney, was the biggest win of jockey Connor Murtagh's career.
'That's my first Group winner, to get a ride on a Group 1 winner coming into a race like this is absolutely brilliant,' Murtagh said.
'Absolutely full credit to the team back there, they got him so ready for today first-up, 1200m isn't really his trip, going back through his form.
'I didn't expect to get it my own way so softly on the front end, I thought he'd be a bit keener to be honest, but he sat lovely for me and stuck his neck out when I needed him to.'
Queman (right) battles it out with Recommendation (pink silks) in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville. Picture: Makoto Kaneko
Queman's win capped a double for the Oxlade's, who also saluted with talented gelding Captain Happy in a Benchmark 66 (1050m).
Returning hoop Kayla Crowther is also back on the winner's list, the gun hoop returned to race riding last Saturday after a fractured shoulder kept her out of the saddle since April.
Crowther piloted Clarence to victory in a Benchmark 66 (1200m) which capped a training treble for Will Clarken, who has started the new racing season with a bang.
Jason Holder and Rochelle Milnes shared riding honours on Morphettville's nine-race card with a double each.
Holder's win aboard Nostryia in the last race handed Kate Halliday her first winner as a trainer, who has taken over from her father, David, who trained 360 winners across his career.
