Thoroughbred Champion Might And Power – Power – EzineMark

A truly magnificent thoroughbred horse, the New Zealand bred and Australian owned gelding, Might and Power conquered Australian horse racing in the 1990s. He was named Australian Horse of the Year twice. The brown very plain horse that could of passed off for a few dollars at the yearling sales did his owner and trainer proud, and wealthy, with an astonishing $5 million dollars in prize money. His indefatigable spirit to win made him one the very few thoroughbreds to succeed in winning both the Melbourne and Caulfield Cup double

Might and Power by Zabeel, a champion sire, is rated among greats such as Tulloch and Kingston Town, who each had their moments of glory on Australian racing tracks. Owner Nick Moraitis, jockeys Brian York and Jimmy Cassidy, trainer Jack Denham, all had much to do with the horses great success. After his first victory in only his third start on 24 July 1996, never looked back, winning back-to-back restricted races at Canterbury and an impressive victory in the Frank Packer Plate, winning by six lengths.

What made the sprinter different from the pack was his free, front running style that made him win a number of races by big margins, breaking many course records along the way. As a four-year old the bay gelding reaffirmed his authority on the race tracks with an impressive victory in the Show County Quality over a distance of 1,200 meters, coming from right behind to beat Alfa, winner of the Caulfield Guineas. With Jim Cassidy in the saddle, Might and Power made mincemeat of his rivals in the 2,400

At the start of 1997 Might and Power ran into third place in the Orr Stakes and then ran into second position in the St. George Stakes, behind Dane Ripper, while a minor injury forced the gelding out of the Australian Cup. In Sydney Brian York took over the reins and steered Might and Power to a five length win in the Mercedes Classic. Might and Power was now definitely the horse to back, soon becoming every punter’s favorite by winning four weight-for-age races. The AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes was the icing on the cake which the gelding won by ten and a half lengths in a race that included the best among Group 1 winners including the like of Champagne and Juggler. Might and Power continued on his winning way with more victories when he won by five and three quarter lengths from Summer Beau in the Hollindale Cup in Queensland, and then another win by one length in the Doomben Cup defeating Intergaze.

After a few defeats, Brian York was again replaced by Jim Cassidy, who whipped up the Caulfield Stakes once again. The gelding had 40,000 punters in Moonee Valley on their toes on 24 October 1998 in the Cox Plate, winning comfortably in record time by over a length from Northern Drake. The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes was perhaps his last victory, winning by seven lengths after which a tendon injury kept the gelding out of racing until September 2000, trotting off into retirement at the Living Legends in Woodlands Historic Park, Greenvale, Victoria, after two starts. Undoubtedly, Might and Power is also an inductee in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.