Might And Power was a top-class New Zealand-bred who was the Australian Horse of the Year in 1998 and 1999.
He won both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup in 1997. After winning the Cox Plate in 1998, he joined an exclusive band of horses to have won all three races.
We’re taking a closer look at the great horse, especially his 1997 Melbourne Cup success.
About Might And Power
Might And Power was foaled in New Zealand at Windsor Park Stud on October 6th, 1993.
He made his first racecourse start late on in his juvenile season. He won his first race on his third start on July 24th, 1996.
He’d go on to win 15 races from his 33 career starts. He was second 7 times and placed third once.
Between 1997 and 1998, Might And Power landed seven major races during a magic time. He won the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup in 1997. He also took the Mercedes Classic, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Doomben Cup, the Caulfield Stakes and the Cox Plate.
Might And Power’s performances over this short space of time won him many accolades.
He was the World Champion Stayer in 1997. He was also given the title of Australian Horse of the Year in both 1998 and 1999. He has since been inducted into both the Australian Racing Hall of Fame as well as the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.
Not many horses do the Cup Double in the spring, but he is one of the lucky (or talented) few.
Might And Power’s Melbourne Cup Win
Might And Power achieved his greatest success on Tuesday, November 4th, 1997. In the Melbourne Cup, he went off as a short-priced 7/2 shot at Flemington.
Might And Power had won the Caulfield Cup previously, beating Doriemus. That horse had done the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double two years earlier. Although his connections’ dreams of a double-double had now gone, they were looking seriously for some revenge at Flemington.
In the end, under his 3.5kg penalty for winning at Caulfield, it was to be Might And Power’s day again. Doriemus was second once more.
Might And Power led from the front in the 1997 Melbourne Cup under Jim Cassidy. He was strong enough to keep Doriemus back, though many will remember Greg Hall waving his whip in the belief that he had won and the team had got their revenge. Sadly for him, he and Doriemus had actually just lost out in a photo.
