Tips Category: Caulfield Stakes

The Might And Power, registered as the Caulfield Stakes, is a Group 1 weight-for-age race held at Caulfield Racecourse over 2000m. The $1m feature is a key lead up to the Cox Plate and has been won by some of Australia’s best gallopers including; Kingston Town, Lonhro, Winx, and of course, Might And Power, who won the race in 1998 and dually saluted in the Cox Plate at his next start. Kiwi mare, Probabeel, caused a boilover in last year’s small field, proving too strong for her rivals including short priced favourite, Zaaki.

Zaaki lines up again in this year’s Might And Power but is nowhere near as skinny in the market, after his last start defeat in the Underwood. Dabble has him $4.80 second favourite behind Cox Plate runner up, Anamoe, who’s currently $2.40. Last start Underwood Stakes winner, Alligator Blood, and Makybe Diva Stakes winner, I’m Thunderstruck, are next best at $6.00.

As we know, anything can happen in racing, and this year’s race looks ultra competitive with our best middle distance gallopers set to do battle. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Might And Power along with The Shark’s best tips. 

1. Zaaki (7) – $4.80
Jockey – Jamie Kah 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham

Led and won soft first up in the Tramway before an even effort last start in the Underwood. Will present fitter here third up and roll forward from the wide gate. Can bounce back.

“Happy for either of them to win.”@ANeashamRacing pair, Zaaki & Mo’unga, galloped together at Caulfield this morning ahead of a star-studded G1 Might And Power Stakes on Saturday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nl9Ve6STXR

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 3, 2022

2. I’m Thunderstruck (1) – $6.00
Jockey – Mark Zahra 59kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr

Brilliant return in the Memsie followed by a super win in the Makybe Diva second up. Got back and had too much to do in the small field last start, where they closed in lightning sectionals. Will be ridden closer from the inside gate and will be hard to hold out if the gaps appear.

3. Alligator Blood (5) – $6.00
Jockey – Tim Clark 59kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Led everywhere bar the post in the Makybe Diva before an all the way win in the Underwood. Finds another small field where he can dictate up front and has to be considered a winning chance yet again.

4. Mr Brightside (4) – $16
Jockey – Craig Williams 59kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes

Won the Lawrence and Feehan in good style before an even effort last start. Should get a nice trail behind the speed and will appreciate a bit more give in the track. The 2000m is the big query here, but it’s hard to put the pen through him based on one run.

5. Mo’unga (6) – $12
Jockey – Damien Oliver 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham

Had little luck first up in the Winx Stakes before an improved effort in the Makybe Diva. Came off the bridle last start in the Underwood but rallied strongly late to finish a good second. The 2000m is a tick and loses nothing with D Oliver taking over. Could well be the forgotten horse.

6. Nonconformist (2) – $61
Jockey – Jordan Childs 59kg
Trainer – Grahame Begg

Couldn’t sprint with them in the Makybe Diva and found them too zippy again last start in the Underwood. The extra furlong suits and he was runner up in this race last year, but it’s hard to see him turning the tables on some key rivals here.

The nominations are in for Saturday’s Might And Power Stakes & what a list it is 🔥#AfterTheLast pic.twitter.com/8QSCc9i9CJ

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 3, 2022

7. Anamoe (3) – $2.40F
Jockey – James McDonald 58kg
Trainer – James Cummings

Far too good first up in the Winx Stakes before another dominant effort last start in the George Main. Won the Randwick Guineas by 6.5L and got beaten by a lip in the Cox Plate at ten furlongs. Will get a gun run behind the speed and is the one they have to beat.

8. Benaud (8) – $26
Jockey – Damian Lane 58kg
Trainer – John O’Shea

Has found the line well in all three runs this prep including last start in the Kingston Town. Will snag back from the outside gate and let the race unfold, and will be strong late. Gets the blinkers on for this but may still find a few too sharp here. Worth following over further.

Final Word

This year’s Might And Power is a cracker, with eight of Australia’s heavyweight contenders going head to head in a mini version of this year’s Cox Plate. Last start Underwood winner, Alligator Blood, looks the likely speed influence and will be trying to make every post a winner once again. As for the track, there are some showers forecast for Friday but the Caulfield surface should race well, most likely in the good/soft range.

Saturday’s Might And Power Stakes clash between these weight-for-age heavyweights 🤤 pic.twitter.com/9oPWv9H1cj

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 3, 2022

Had a tough time splitting Anamoe and Zaaki here. Anamoe has come back in super form this prep and has been dominant in winning both the Winx Stakes and George Main. His 2000m form is excellent and he should get a gun run in transit from barrier three. Zaaki, although disappointing last start, should improve fitness wise and be ready to fire third up. He will roll forward from the wider gate and should be a lot stronger in the concluding stages this time round.

Mo’unga may well be the forgotten horse in the race. He had no luck first up in the Winx Stakes and has hit the line well at his last two outings. The rise in trip suits and Damien Oliver is no stranger to Group 1 victories. Alligator Blood will lead and give punters a great sight yet again, and I’m Thunderstruck can’t be left out of calculations, despite the 2000m being a query and the inside gate a concern.

Might and Power Tip

7. Anamoe – Win ($2.40)

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If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Might And Power page for all your punting needs!

*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.

Another Caulfield Stakes, another small field with an overwhelmingly short-priced favourite. Russian Camelot was rolled at the skinny $1.40 quote last year, will the same fate befall Zaaki this time around?

Read on to find out, as we look at each and every runner in the 2021 Caulfield Stakes!

1. Homesman (2) – $12
Jockey – Jye McNeil
Trainer – A & S Freedman

Stuck on reasonably well against Zaaki in the Q22 during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, and resumed nicely in the JRA Cup last start over the 2040m. Always goes well at The Heath and is a specialist at this distance, could be included in exotics to run second.

2. Zaaki (4) – $1.26
Jockey – Craig Williams
Trainer – Annabel Neasham

All signs are pointing towards a procession here, with just a question of how many lengths Zaaki is to win by. Zaaki’s formidable form resulted in just five rivals lining up against him, and none of them are really here as a Grand Final. Zaaki should win and do it comfortably; it’s just a matter of if your bank is big enough to take such a short price! You can confidently include in multiples, and move onto other races on the day.

ZAAKI WINS THE GROUP 1 UNDERWOOD STAKES.

Thoughts on the win? pic.twitter.com/WTrSOORXkm

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 25, 2021

3. Nonconformist (3) – $19
Jockey – Jordy Childs
Trainer – Graeme Begg

This talented stayer has completed his first goal of the preparation, booking a place in the Caulfield Cup with his impressive win in the Naturalism Stakes last outing. This looks to be a tick over run to ensure he hits the Caulfield Cup in peak condition next week, not enthused here.

4. Nickajack Cave (5) – $67
Jockey – Luke Nolen
Trainer – Peter Moody

Talented international who was brought out here last year as a Cups horse but was unable to secure a run. This looks a mighty tough first up run having not been seen since April, with a tilt at the Cups surely on the agenda. You would think connections just want to see this galloper hit the line nicely, not here to win.

5. Probabeel (1) – $6.50
Jockey – Brett Prebble
Trainer – Jamie Richards

Was brave coming second to Zaaki in the Underwood Stakes last outing, and will be hoping for a similar result here. There have to be questions asked about how much she likes the 2000m, but she’s probably the most likely second horse here.

6. No Effort (6) – $51
Jockey – Beau Mertens
Trainer – Gavin Bedggood

Will provide some nuisance value up front and will probably ensure this race is run at a solid tempo, but she’s a very limited galloper compared to these and will be a road block late.

Final Say

All signs point towards a victory to Zaaki, though with No Effort setting the pace and Homesman in the field, he may have to work a little more than in the Underwood Stakes.

Zaaki should be winning but the price is very short, you can include him in multiples with confidence and sink your teeth into the other Group 1s on the day.

If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our Caulfield Guineas page for all your punting needs!

*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of Sportsbet.

Is this just a procession for Cox Plate favourite Russian Camelot, with only five competitors willing to face the short-priced favourite in the 2020 Caulfield Stakes?

Let’s take a look at each runner in the $1 million event.

1 – Gailo Chop – $26 ?

The old boy stuck on okay in the Underwood Stakes, albeit in the better part of the track compared to Humidor and Arcadia Queen. At his pet distance now and should find the front pretty easily in the small field and is worth including in exotics like trifectas or first fours. Be wary there won’t be a third place dividend with the field size.

2 – Humidor – $6 ?

What a resurrection it’s been under Chris Waller, winning the Feehan Stakes and fighting home well inferior ground in the Underwood Stakes. Won’t mind the step up in trip, and is ticking along nicely for the Cox Plate.

“Humidor has won it – what a return!”

Humidor comes from the clouds in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes and wins his way into the @CoxPlate. @cwallerracing @LaneDamian @TheValley pic.twitter.com/LYPGUYPEco

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 5, 2020

3 – Levendi – $61

Was improved in the JRA Cup behind Al Galayel, but would need to find something to finish ahead of anything in the field.

4 – Harbour Views – $31

Was unlucky to be beaten in the Feehan Stakes but was disappointing in the Underwood Stakes last start, in the best part of the track and unable to wind in Trap For Fools, or close the gap on Gailo Chop. Hard to have.

5 – Arcadia Queen – $4.60 ?

Strange decision from Pike to head to the rail in the inferior part of the track in the Underwood Stakes, fought on okay. The bar plates finally come off, and if we don’t get too much rain, think she should sew up second place.

6 – Russian Camelot – $1.55 ???

Star in the making, it’s hard to knock anything here except the skinny price. Oliver can go forward again if he pleases and keep the Cox Plate favourite out of trouble, with the step up to 2000m only a positive. Should just win here and continue his spring assault.

Russian Camelot could be anything. ?

A star is born in the Underwood Stakes. pic.twitter.com/P7frTCyWvX

— 7HorseRacing ? (@7horseracing) September 26, 2020

Tip: 6-5-2-1

? = Must Watch
? = Big Winning Chance
?= Worth Including in Exotics

2020 Caulfield Stakes Field, Odds, and Barriers

*Odds correct at time of posting article.