The longstanding partnership between trainer John Meagher, the Lim family’s Stable, and jockey Noel Callow nearly rekindled its former success during the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville Racecourse on August 8, but ultimately finished third with Lim’s Saltoro.

Lim’s Saltoro, a former Singapore galloper returning after a year-long injury hiatus, contested the A$150,000 (S$135,000) contest over 1,200 meters. The horse settled behind early leader Sir Now, ridden by Connor Murtagh, as both maintained wide positions without setting a particularly fast pace. In the home straight, Sir Now pushed strongly along the standside rails and fended off a late challenge from runner-up Cicala, ridden by Rochelle Milnes, while Lim’s Saltoro closed steadily under Callow but could only secure third place, finishing a length behind Cicala.

Callow’s involvement in the race marked a notable return to professional riding, following a one-year hiatus after he faced a ban in 2024 related to racially insensitive conduct in Darwin. Callow had been a regular rider for John Meagher and the Lim Stable during his early career in Singapore from 2007 to 2008. The collaboration between Meagher and the Lim family had continued to flourish after Meagher’s youngest son Daniel returned to Singapore to train in 2016, guiding horses such as Lim’s Kosciuszko, Lim’s Lightning, and Lim’s Saltoro to multiple Group 1 victories.

This event represented the first opportunity in 18 years for Callow to ride for the Meagher-Lim partnership again. Since the cessation of Singapore racing in October 2024, John Meagher relocated back to Victoria, Australia, and chose Morphettville to reintroduce Lim’s Saltoro to competition after recovery from injury. Meanwhile, Callow, who had been last active on the Gold Coast circuit, has relocated to his hometown of Adelaide in an effort to revive his career.

Despite the reunion not yielding a victory, future opportunities are expected for the team to return to the winner’s circle, whether in Adelaide or the Melbourne racing circuit.

The winner, Sir Now, provided his trainer Darryl Hewitt with his first Group 3 victory. Hewitt, a former Australian Rules Football player and uncle of tennis player Lleyton Hewitt, described the achievement as a special milestone. “It’s the first time I’ve had a Group 3 winner; I’ve had a couple of placings in Group 3s, Listed winners, but no Group 3 winners,” he said. “So, it’s really special, and this horse deserves it. You can hear from the crowd that he’s a favourite.”