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.

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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

Author
Cameron rose's Tip

JUST FINE

WIN

Neds Might And Power 14 October 15:45
6. Just Fine
Win 3.90
Place 1.40

* 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

2023 MIGHT AND POWER STAKES REPLAY