Might and Power
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Might and Power was one of the greatest thoroughbreds of Australian horse-racing. The bay gelding swept all before him in a period of 12 months during 1997 & 1998, winning the Caulfield Cup, the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate. He also dominated the Sydney Autumn Carnival of 1998.
Might and Power first came to the notice of the Australian Racing Public during the Autumn of 1997 as a 3 year old. In the 1997 AJC Derby he suffered severe interference to finish 4th behind Ebony Grosve. The next week he displayed a glimpse of the brilliance to come when he won the Packer Plate at Randwick by 6 lengths.
In the early spring of 1997 as a 4 year old, Might and Power won 1st up over the unsuitable sprint journey of 1200m and started favourite in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap over 1600m a few runs later. However, he finished unplaced but not far from the winner and trainer Jack Denham brought him to Melbourne for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup over 2400m. Handicapped with only 52.5 kgs and with flamboyant jockey Jim Cassidy on board, Might and Power raced to one of the most astonishing victories seen in the race. Riding against instructions Cassidy took Might and Power to the front and allowed him to stride along freely. Turning for home Might and Power was well clear and raced away to win by 7 lenghts in record time.
Australian Racing was thrown on its ear and betting markets for the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup were hastily re arranged with Might and Power being installed as a short priced favourite for both events. As it turned out Might and Power would have to wait another 12 months for his crack at the Cox Plate as trainer Denham and owner Nick Moratis decided to go directly to the Melbourne Cup without another run. The horse had received a 3.5kg penalty for the race after his win at Caulfield and was now carrying 56kg.
On Melbourne Cup Day several large bets were wagered on Might and Power despite a quality field including 1995 Cup Winner Doriemus, AJC Derby and MacKinnon Stakes winner Ebony Grosve, and a strong contingent of internationals. At starting time he was 7-2 favourite. During the race Jim Cassidy again took Might and Power to the lead where he had a good run until about 600m from home when Linesman moved up strongly to challenge for the lead. After straightening for home, however, Might and Power shook him off and lead by more than 2 lenghts with 300m left to run. In the last 200m Doriemus made a late charge for victory and as they crossed the line it was desperately close, with Doriemus' Jockey, Greg Hall, believing he had snatched victory on the line, waving his whip in salute. However the photo showed Might and Power had held on for a memorable and well deserved victory.
After this stirring win Might and Power was acclaimed the best stayer in the world and was sent for a spell.
In the autumn of 1998 Might and Power resumed racing in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes of 1400m at Caulfield. He ran a promising 3rd but at his next start he was surprisingly beaten by the Cox Plate winner Dane Ripper in the Group 2 St.George of 1800m, also at Caulfield. The 2 horses were due to clash again in the Group 1 Australian Cup of 2000m at Flemington but on the eve of the race Might and Power was struck by a mystery leg injury that threatened his career. Dane Ripper easily won the 1998 Australian Cup.
Much to the relief of connections and the racing public in general, Might and Power's injury was found to be superficial and he was able to resume his autumn preparation. Unfortunately, in his next start in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes 2000m WFA at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney he was beaten into 2nd place by promising 3 year old Gold Guru who went on to win the AJC Derby that year. After this defeat jockey Jim Cassidy was replaced by Brian York after connections appeared less than satisfied with his efforts in the Ranvet Stakes.
His next start was in the Group 1 BMW of 2400m, Sydney's premier distance Weight for Age event. This time, with Brian York in the saddle, there were no slip ups and the champion bolted in by 5 lenghts defeating Gold Guru and Doriemus. It was the start of a golden patch of form.
At the Randwick Carnival Might and Power was entered for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes of 2000m at weight for age against a crack field that included group 1 winners Juggler, Champagne, Catalan Opening and Intergaze. Juggler was a top weight for age performer with multiple Group 1 victories. Champagne subsequently won the WFA MacKinnon Stakes at Group 1 level and ran 2nd in the 1998 Melbourne Cup. Catalan Opening won the Hong Kong International Mile on 2 occasions. Intergaze finished his career by winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes twice as well as an Australian Cup. But this day was Might and Power's Day. He jumped straight to the lead and most of the runners were off the bit by the 800m. Turning for home Might and Power lead by about 6 lengths and as he careered past the winning post the margin was 10.5 lenghts to the gallant Champagne with a further 3 lenghts to Catalan Opening. It was an awesome performance and it is doubtful that there was any horse in the world that could have beaten him on this day.
After this there was no doubt that Might and Power was ranked in the top echelon of horses ever to race in Australia. His next start was in Queensland where he bolted in with the Hollindale Stakes 1800m on the Gold Coast before winning the 2020m Doomben Cup Group 1 in race record time. He was sent for a well deserved but short spell after an arduous 4 year old career.
Having turned 5 Might and Power's goal for the spring of 1998 was the Cox Plate 2040m Group 1 WFA. Trainer Jack Denham had tasted narrow defeat in this event in the 2 previous years with his top galloper Filante. Might and Power started his campaign in Sydney with a good 2nd up victory in the Chelmsford Stakes but in the Group 1 George Main Stakes 1600m Might and Power failed badly finishing well out of the placings. It was subsequently discovered that Might and Power had a virus putting his spring campaign in some jeopardy. Nevertheless he recovered sufficiently to return to racing in Melbourne for the Group 1 Yalumba Stakes of 2000m at Caulfield, a traditional lead up race to the Cox Plate. Pitted against the champion was the top New Zealand Mare Tycoon Lil who had come to Australia for a tilt at the Cox Plate. With uncertainty about his form and a change of jockey again (Brian York was sacked after the George Main failure) Caulfield held its breath. Tycoon Lil, ridden by Shane Dye led the champ for most of the journey but after straightening for home Jim Cassidy asked Might and Power for the big effort and he responded magnificently to win running away by 2 lengths.
Saturday 24th of October 1998 saw Moonee Valley Racecourse packed to rafters with a crowd of nearly 40000 all hoping to see Might and Power achieve a feat not completed since 1931. In that year the legendary Australian Champion Phar Lap won the Cox Plate the year after having won the Melbourne Cup. Since then no horse had achieved the feat.In addition, Might and Power would become only the 2nd horse after Rising Fast to have won the 3 big races of the Australian Turf, namely the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate. However Rising Fast completed this remarkable treble in the one season (1954).
When post time arrived Might and Power was an odds on favourite starting at 5-4 on. But when they jumped Might and Power was slow out of the gates and with the short run down the Moonee Valley Straight to the 1st turn, Jim Cassidy was caught between horses as they turned out of the straight. Soon after he urged Might and Power to the front and by the 1600m he was settled in front with Tycoon Lil tucked in behind. After this the race was never in doubt with Jim Cassidy letting the champion loose from the 800m and as they turned for home he lead by 2 lengths. Outsider Northern Drake made a late challenge but on the line Might and Power was going better than anything else to record an emphatic 1.5 lenghts victory. The crowd was elated and winning owner Nick Moratis came out onto the track to greet his champion. He ran along the outside running rail slapping hands with delighted racegoers as they soaked up the moment.
Two weeks later Might and Power saddled up for the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington over 2500m, a quality handicap. Given the maximum allowable impost of 60kg with the rest of the field compressed down near the weight scale minimumm of 51kg, Might and Power was sent out at unbackable odds of 5-1 on. Having lead all the way he extended his winning margin to 7 lengths on the post to the applause of the Flemington Crowd.
His next assignment was to be the Japan Cup over 2400m where Australians were keen for him to prove himself as the best thoroughbred in the world, but Nick Moratis was unable to secure a direct flight for the horse's return from Japan and with the horse's best interests at heart, he sent Might and Power for a spell. Unfortunately, early in 1999 while preparing for a return to the race track Might and Power bowed a tendon. He returned for 2 races as a 7 year old in the spring of 2000 but failed dismally in both races and was retired.
His race record stands at 33 starts for 15 wins, 7 seconds & 1 third.
While it is difficult to compare horses of different or even the same eras, it is doubtful that there has been a better horse to race in Australia in recent times than Might and Power. Kingston Town is the benchmark by which most modern Australian Champions are judged but in the view of many he was better than Kingston Town. He was a very versatile horse. From 1800m to 3200m he was virtually unbeatable when he was fit. He had no trouble on left handed or right handed tracks and could handle all conditions from fast to heavy tracks. In future years he may rate along side the legends of the Australian Turf ie. Carbine Phar Lap Bernborough and Tulloch. As with so many racehorses, injury cruelly cut short his career, but not before he made an indelible mark on the face of Australian Racing.
