Might And Power Stakes: Caulfield 2000m
Race Overview
| date | Sat 12 Oct 2024 |
| track | Caulfield |
| distance | 2000m |
| conditions | WFA |
| status | Group 1 |
| prizemoney | $1,000,000 |
The Might And Power Stakes, also known as the Caulfield Stakes, was first run in 1886, and contains a list of winners that stacks up against any Group 1 in Australia, particularly in the last 40 years. Horses the calibre of Kingston Town twice, Bonecrusher, Naturalism, Might And Power himself, Northerly, Lonhro, So You Think, Atlantic Jewel and Winx won this race, often on the way to Cox Plate glory.
Being run over 2000m at WFA, two weeks before the Cox Plate, makes it the natural lead-up to the premier weight-for-age race in Australasia, while some horses use it as a final tune-up for the Caulfield Cup a week later. It is one of many races on the Caulfield Guineas card that gives the day some claim to being the best this country has.
2023 MIGHT AND POWER STAKES PREVIEW
The favourite here is Alligator Blood, and his only two tries at this distance range were last spring when he was fifth in both this race and the Cox Plate, so he is yet to place at 2000m. His win in the Underwood Stakes last start, over 1800m, was visually strong enough to suggest that an extra furlong should be within his ability given he worked a bit on a slow speed early, and then was perfectly ridden to score, but he only had the 10th quickest last 400m and 200m.
Duais caught the eye for third in the Underwood, and there have been hints all year that the dual Group 1 WFA winner may be close to producing her best, but are we waiting for Godot? From gate 10 she’ll once again get back and have to run on, a scenario preferred at Flemington rather than Caulfield. Still, she’s clearly got the class.
Just Fine is the fresh horse on the scene, tackling weight-for-age for the first time. This is still his first preparation in Australia, a campaign in which he has won all three races, including the Group 1 Metropolitan over 2400m in course record time. He’ll go forward to stalk the favourite and be strong at the end when Alligator Blood is potentially wilting.
Of the rest, Nonconformist has the most runs on the board at this level, given he ran second in this race two years ago splitting Probabeel and Zaaki, has finished second in a Caulfield Cup, and beat home Duais at WFA when second to Without A Fight in Queensland back in June.
Selections: 1.Just Fine 2.Duais 3.Alligator Blood 4.Nonconformist
Expert Tips
JUST FINE
WIN
* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds
Past Winners Of The Might And Power Stakes
| YEAR | HORSE | JOCKEY | TRAINERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Alligator Blood | Tim Clark | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 2022 | Anamoe | James McDonald | James Cummings |
| 2021 | Probabeel | Brett Prebble | Jamie Richards |
| 2020 | Arcadia Queen | William Pike | Grant & Alana Williams |
| 2019 | Cape Of Good Hope | Mark Zahra | David and Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig |
| 2018 | Benbatl | Pat Cosgrove | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 2017 | Gailo Chop | Mark Zahra | Darren Weir |
| 2016 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller |
| 2015 | Criterion | Michael Walker | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig |
| 2014 | Fawkner | Nick Hall | Robert Heathcote |
| 2013 | Atlantic Jewel | Michael Rodd | Mark Kavanagh |
| 2012 | Ocean Park | Glen Boss | Gary Hennessy |
| 2011 | Descarado | Nash Rawiller | Gai Waterhouse |
| 2010 | So You Think | Steven Arnold | Bart Cummings |