Might And Power Stakes attracts 10 runners

Alligator Blood will seek back-to-back Group 1’s in the Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

The first of the three Group 1 feature races on the Caulfield program will be the $1 million Might And Power Stakes, where the 2000m contest has attracted 10 runners.

The current race favourite Alligator Blood (+125) has drawn perfectly in barrier three and will go into the 2023 edition considerably shorter and more of a chance than last year, when he finished fifth – beaten 2.25 lengths by Anamoe.

After claiming the Group 1 Underwood Stakes last start over 1800m, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained galloper will be seeking back-to-back Group 1 victories for the first time in his career.

Up-and-coming stayer and stablemate to the favourite Just Fine (+360) has also drawn very well for the Might And Power, with the son of Sea The Stars set to jump from barrier four and is expected to settle near the front.

With the Melbourne Cup set to be his target in early November, a win in the Might And Power would help Just Fine’s chances of getting into the field considerably.

On the third line of betting sits the Edward Cummings-trained Duais (+400), who is coming through the same form line as the race favourite, after finishing third – beaten 1.2 lengths – and catching the eye with a run up the inside running rail.

The three-time Group 1 winning mare has received the visitors barrier out in 10, but with her get back and run on racing style, it shouldn’t be seen as a negative and hinder her chances too much.

Outside of the top three, Nonconformist (+1700) from the Grahame Begg yard will be contest the race for the third straight year, where the seven-year-old gelding will attempt to better his runner-up performance in the 2021 edition.

Although Lindermann (+1100) is yet to win since taking out the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas earlier this year, the Chris Waller-trained entire will step up to 2000m for the first time this campaign and will get every favour from barrier one.

2023 Might And Power Stakes Final Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Alligator Blood	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Tim Clark	3	59kg
2	Vow And Declare	Danny O’Brien	Billy Egan	8	59kg
3	Nonconformist	Grahame Begg	Harry Coffey	5	59kg
4	Alenquer	Mike Moroney	Mark Zahra	7	59kg
5	Hezashocka	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Damian Lane	9	59kg
6	Just Fine	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Jordan Childs	4	59kg
7	Forgot You	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	John Allen	6	59kg
8	Lindermann	Chris Waller	Joao Moreira	1	58kg
9	Duais	Edward Cummings	Blake Shinn	10	57kg
10	Deny Knowledge	Michael Kent	Wiremu Pinn	2	57kg