Might and Power
Might and Power | |
---|---|
Sire | |
Awards | |
World Champion Stayer (1997) Australian Horse of the Year (1998 & 1999) | |
Honours | |
Australian Racing Hall of Fame New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame | |
Last updated on 25 October 2009 |
Might and Power (6 October 1993 – 11 April 2020) was a
Breeding
Might and Power was foaled at
Racing career
Two- and three-year-old season: 1995-1997
Might and Power made his debut late in his two-year-old season, and won his first race on 24 July 1996, at his third start. Spelled after one more start, he returned in the new year, and, once stepped up to 1,900 metres, won back-to-back restricted races at
Four-year-old season: 1997-1998
Might And Power resumed in the Show County Quality, over 1,200 metres (6
After such an emphatic win, betting markets for the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup were hastily rearranged, with Might and Power being installed as a short-priced favourite for both events. His trainer, Jack Denham, who had Filante set for the Cox Plate, elected to bypass the Valley feature with Might And Power and go into the Melbourne Cup without another run. At Flemington, Might And Power was to carry 56 kilograms (8 st 11 lb) having received a penalty of three-and-a-half kilos (a modern record) for his win in the Caulfield Cup. This placed him just one kilo below weight-for-age for a four-year-old male horse at 3,200 metres, and within 1.5 kilograms of Doriemus, who had won the race in 1995. If Might And Power were successful, it would be the highest weight carried to victory by a four-year-old since Gurner's Lane in 1982.
Despite these obstacles, as well as several European stayers and tackling the extreme distance for the first time, several large bets were placed on Might And Power on the day of the race. Starting favourite, he led, and withstood three distinct waves of challenges – Crying Game at the 1,600-metre point, Linesman on the home turn, and Doriemus over the final 200 metres. After seeing off Linesman, Might and Power led by more than two lengths with 300 metres left to run, but Doriemus emerged on the outside. Edging closer and closer, Doriemus appeared likely to score with 50 metres to go, but Might And Power found again in the final strides. In the tightest of finishes, after which Greg Hall, on Doriemus, waved his whip in salute, the photo showed Might and Power had held on.
At the end of the year, Might and Power was named World Champion Stayer.
Returning in the new year, Might And Power ran third behind the Group One winning sprinters Special Dane and Al Mansour in
Back to full fitness, and well-rated by York, Might And Power recorded fast time and defeated Gold Guru and Doriemus by five lengths in the
Five-year-old season: 1998-1999
Might And Power's winning run came to an end when beaten on a heavy track in the
Back to top form, Might And Power was installed 11/8-on favourite (approximately $1.70) for the Cox Plate. His trainer, Jack Denham, had been runner-up in the two previous editions, with Filante, and victory would give Might And Power a place in history. He would become only the second horse, after Rising Fast in 1954, to win the Cox Plate and the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and the first reigning Melbourne Cup winner since Phar Lap in 1931 to win the Cox Plate.[5] As a result, nearly 40,000 racegoers packed Moonee Valley racecourse on 24 October 1998. Heading down the straight for the first time, rival jockeys pressed through on the inside in an attempt to clutter him behind other horses, but Jim Cassidy swung Might And Power four-deep on the turn out of the straight, and took over down the side of the course. Setting a strong pace, the rest of the field began to tire behind him, and Might And Power turned for home two lengths clear. AJC Derby placegetter Northern Drake loomed up strongly, at 100/1, but Might And Power held on comfortably to win by just over a length in course record time.
Two weeks later, in what would prove the last win of his career, Might And Power beat a sub-standard field by seven lengths in the
In the new year, Might And Power bowed a tendon in training, and was off the scene for 18 months.
Six- and seven-year-old season: 1999-2001
Unraced at six, Might And Power returned in September 2000 at age seven but failed to beat a runner home in his two starts and was quickly retired. He made numerous public appearances and resided at
Death
Might and Power died on 11 April 2020 after emergency surgery for colic.[7]
Race record
Result | Date | Race | Venue | Group | Distance | Weight (kg) | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4th | 12 Jun 1996 | 2yo Hcp Colts & Geldings | Canterbury | NA | 1290 m | 53.5 | K. Forrester | 1st – Imprison |
5th | 14 Jul 1996 | 2yo Hcp Restricted | Rosehill | NA | 1300 m | 54 | J. Marshall | 1st – Spy Cracker |
Won | 24 Jul 1996 | 2yo Hcp Restricted | Randwick | NA | 1400 m | 53.5 | J. Marshall | 2nd – Torbellino |
Result | Date | Race | Venue | Group | Distance | Weight (kg) | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd | 02 Aug 1996 | 3yo Hcp Restricted | Rosehill | NA | 1500 m | 55 | J. Marshall | 1st – Spy Cracker |
12th | 11 Jan 1997 | 3yo Hcp Restricted | Rosehill | NA | 1350 m | 51 | J. Morris | 1st – Purist |
2nd | 26 Jan 1997 | 3yo Hcp Restricted | Randwick | NA | 1800 m | 54.5 | J. Cassidy | 1st – Sir Markie |
Won | 09 Feb 1997 | 3yo & Up Hcp Restricted | Canterbury | NA | 1900 m | 55.5 | J. Cassidy | 2nd – Myban Star |
Won | 16 Feb 1997 | 3yo & Up Hcp Restricted | Canterbury | NA | 1900 m | 54 | J. Cassidy | 2nd – Nimzo Indian |
2nd | 01 Mar 1997 | Canterbury Guineas |
Rosehill | G1 | 1800 m | 55.5 | J. Cassidy | 1st – Intergaze |
7th | 15 Mar 1997 | Rosehill Guineas | Rosehill | G1 | 2000 m | 55.5 | J. Cassidy | 1st – Tarnpir Lane |
4th | 29 Mar 1997 | Australian Derby |
Randwick | G1 | 2400 m | 55.5 | B. York | 1st – Ebony Grosve |
Won | 05 Apr 1997 | Frank Packer Plate | Randwick | G3 | 2000 m | 54 | B. York | 2nd – Sakti |
Result | Date | Race | Venue | Group | Distance | Weight (kg) | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Won | 23 Aug 1997 | Show County Quality Handicap |
Warwick Farm | LR | 1200 m | 53 | B. York | 2nd – Alfa |
2nd | 06 Sep 1997 | Tramway Stakes | Randwick | G3 | 1400 m | 54.5 | B. York | 1st – Galactic Valley |
2nd | 20 Sep 1997 | Shannon Stakes | Rosehill | G3 | 1500 m | 55.5 | B. York | 1st – Quick Flick |
8th | 04 Oct 1997 | Epsom Handicap | Randwick | G1 | 1600 m | 54 | B. York | 1st – Iron Horse |
Won | 18 Oct 1997 | Caulfield Cup | Caulfield | G1 | 2400 m | 52.5 | J. Cassidy | 2nd – Doriemus |
Won | 04 Nov 1997 | Melbourne Cup | Flemington | G1 | 3200 m | 56 | J. Cassidy | 2nd – Doriemus |
3rd | 14 Feb 1998 | C F Orr Stakes | Caulfield | G1 | 1400 m | 57 | J. Cassidy | 1st – Special Dane |
2nd | 28 Feb 1998 | St George Stakes | Caulfield | G2 | 1800 m | 57 | J. Cassidy | 1st – Dane Ripper |
2nd | 21 Mar 1998 | Ranvet Stakes | Rosehill | G1 | 2000 m | 57 | J. Cassidy | 1st – Gold Guru |
Won | 04 Apr 1998 | Mercedes Classic |
Rosehill | G1 | 2400 m | 57 | B. York | 2nd – Gold Guru |
Won | 25 Apr 1998 | AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
Randwick | G1 | 2000 m | 57 | B. York | 2nd – Champagne |
Won | 13 May 1998 | Hollindale Stakes | Gold Coast | G2 | 1800 m | 57 | B. York | 2nd – Summer Beau |
Won | 23 May 1998 | Doomben Cup | Doomben | G1 | 2020 m | 57 | B. York | 2nd – Intergaze |
Result | Date | Race | Venue | Group | Distance | Weight (kg) | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4th | 22 Aug 1998 | Warwick Stakes |
Warwick Farm | G2 | 1400 m | 58 | B. York | 1st – What Can I Say |
Won | 05 Sep 1998 | Chelmsford Stakes | Randwick | G2 | 1600 m | 58 | B. York | 2nd – Juggler |
7th | 26 Sep 1998 | George Main Stakes |
Randwick | G1 | 1600 m | 58 | B. York | 1st – Dracula |
Won | 10 Oct 1998 | Yalumba Stakes |
Caulfield | G1 | 2000 m | 58 | J. Cassidy | 2nd – Tycoon Lil |
Won | 24 Oct 1998 | W. S. Cox Plate | Moonee Valley | G1 | 2040 m | 58 | J. Cassidy | 2nd – Northern Drake |
Won | 07 Nov 1998 | VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
Flemington | G2 | 2500 m | 60 | J. Cassidy | 2nd – Oregon Star |
Result | Race |
---|---|
Nil | Might and Power was unraced as a six-year-old |
Result | Date | Race | Venue | Group | Distance | Weight (kg) | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11th | 02 Sep 2000 | Tramway Stakes | Rosehill | G3 | 1350 m | 60 | J. Cassidy | 1st – Mr Innocent |
15th | 14 Sep 2000 | Shannon Stakes | Rosehill | G2 | 1500 m | 60 | J. Cassidy | 1st – Al Mansour |
Pedigree
Sire Zabeel (NZ) 1986 |
Sir Tristram (Ire) 1971 |
Sir Ivor (USA) 1965 |
Sir Gaylord (USA) |
---|---|---|---|
Attica (USA) | |||
Isolt (USA) 1961 |
Round Table (USA) | ||
All My Eye (GB) | |||
Lady Giselle (Fr) 1982 |
Nureyev (USA) 1977 |
Northern Dancer (Can) | |
Special (USA) | |||
Valderna (Fr) 1972 |
Val de Loir (Fr) | ||
Derna (Fr) | |||
Dam Benediction (Ire) 1985 |
Day Is Done (Ire) 1979 |
Artaius (USA) 1974 |
Round Table (USA) |
Stylish Pattern (USA) | |||
Headin' Home (Ire) 1971 |
Habitat (USA) | ||
Miss Doree (GB) | |||
Cathedra (GB) 1976 |
So Blessed (GB) 1965 |
Princely Gift (GB) | |
Lavant (GB) | |||
Collyria (GB) 1956 |
Arctic Prince (GB) | ||
Eyewash (GB) (Family: 6-e) |
See also
- Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year
- List of racehorses
- List of millionaire racehorses in Australia
- List of Melbourne Cup winners
References
Notes
- ^ Might And Power's racing career
- ^ Australian Stud Book – Summary for Might And Power
- ^ Stallion page for Lucky Owner's – Grandson of Benediction
- ^ New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Archived 2007-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 0-670-88502-9.
- ^ "Living Legends". Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ^ Stevens, James (11 April 2020). "Australian wonder horse Might And Power dies aged 26". Racing Post.
Bibliography
- Thomas, Helen (2017). A Horse Called Mighty: The Might and Power Story. Carlton, Vic: Nero. ISBN 978-1-86395-932-2.