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