A share in $1 million goes on the line this Saturday at Caulfield when a small field of eight take their place in the Might And Power.
The first Group 1 feature of the day sees Mr Brightside step out as the odds-on favourite, followed closely in betting by the always honest Atishu, and the Freedman-trained Deny Knowledge.
Formerly known as the Caulfield Stakes, and for a brief period, the Ladbrokes Stakes, the Might And Power has been won by several champions of the track, including So You Think, Winx, and more recently, Alligator Blood.
For analysis on each runner in this year’s Might And Power field, continue reading below.
1. Mr Brightside (1)
A seven-time Group 1 winner, Mr Brightside looks the obvious on-top selection in this year’s Might And Power.
The Lindsay Park-trained seven-year-old hasn’t lost a step so far this prep, letting down beautifully to gun down Pride Of Jenni two runs back and claim the Makybe Diva Stakes over his final few strides.
He failed to reel in the mighty mare in the Feehan Stakes at The Valley a couple of weeks ago, but did close the gap nicely after spotting her 15 lengths mid-race.
The 2000m trip is far from his best, but he finds a thin race that looks to be the perfect launching pad into the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in a fortnight’s time.
Likely to get back off the speed and charge late, he’ll likely prove several classes above most of these.
2. Vow And Declare (5)
The nine-year-old Melbourne Cup winner has been racing much better than some of his recent form suggests.
The old boy had his share of support first-up at Caulfield over 2000m, chasing home nicely down the outside over a trip that was well short of his best.
Excuses were then on offer in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes three weeks later back over 1800m when facing a wet track from a horrible gate.
He’s typically done some of his best racing third-up from a spell and is likely to find a dry track more to his liking with Billy Egan retaining the ride.
A win looks unlikely, but a Top 5 finish is certainly within his grasp.
3. Kalapour (4)
The Kris Lees-trained Kalapour has made the journey up from Sydney for his fifth Group 1 start.
The Irish raider is on the quick backup after running in The Metropolitan last week at Randwick where he was away only fairly and always wide from a tricky gate.
Third-up, his form reads quite well, but it’s difficult to say if he’s going well enough to place in a race like this.
4. Adelaide River (3)
Adelaide River is another one out of the Kris Lees stable that doesn’t look up to this level right now.
To his credit, he’s run a place in three of his four starts at Group 1 level overseas, but his effort in the Kingston Town was lacking a few weeks ago where he was second-last to greet the judge.
There was a big watch on this entire by Australia after placing in the Irish Derby last year, but in four starts down under, he’s yet to fire a shot.
5. Atishu (8)
Atishu is another one on the quick backup after finding no luck in the Turnbull Stakes last week.
The mare by Savabeel was held up badly and never afforded clear air in the run home, so this is an interesting decision to send her around again.
That said, she did win the Matriarch a couple of years ago on the seven-day backup, while she’s also got three wins on the board over 2000m.
The talented dual Group 1 winner is one of those mares that always has her share of loyal followers, and with an improved track under foot this week and the class of James McDonald engaged, she’s arguably the biggest threat to Mr Brightside.
6. Deny Knowledge (6)
Expect this Freedman-trained mare to settle forward early and attempt to dictate up on the speed.
The daughter of Pride Of Dubai was caught wide fresh in the Underwood Stakes a couple of weeks ago, only seen doing her best work late through the line to finish midfield.
She’s yet to place in four starts at the very top level but does have improvement still to come out to a more suitable trip.
7. Jennilala (7)
Ciaron Maher’s mare was given a four-week gap between runs when stepping out in the Stocks Stakes at The Valley last month, beaten just over three lengths by the fast-finishing Alsephina
The daughter of Shalaa stays all day and has run well in races like the Australasian Oaks, but she’s still only lightly-raced and likely to find this tough.
Watch for her early up on the speed as she attempts to give her rivals something to chase.
8. Coco Sun (2)
A lightly-raced daughter to The Autumn Sun, Coco Sun could be the one worth having a bet on each-way if you’re an exotics player.
She was absolutely outstanding when she won the South Australian Derby earlier in the year, and more recently had excuses second-up in the Underwood Stakes when she bumped in the run home by Huetor around the 400m mark.
This is tougher again, but she’ll likely eat up 2000m and is potentially set to peak at this stage of her prep with Blake Shinn taking over the reins.