MIGHT AND POWER WINS VIRTUAL CAULFIELD CUP

1st No. 6 – MIGHT AND POWER (52.5kg) – Trainer: Jack Denham – Jockey: Jim Cassidy

2nd No. 10 – LET’S ELOPE (48.5kg) – Trainer: Bart Cummings – Jockey: Stephen King

3rd No. 3 – ELVSTROEM (54kg) – Trainer: Tony Vasil – Jockey: Nash Rawiller

The ‘people’s horse’, Might and Power, has re-affirmed his status as one of racing’s true greats after streaking home to win the 2005 Virtual Caulfield Cup.

Racing in a “field of dreams” comprising the Caulfield Cup’s best winners of the past twenty years, Might and Power once again demonstrated his trademark ability to surge clear of his rivals over the last 600 metres of the race.

Carrying his cup winning weight of 52.5 kilograms and perfectly ridden by Jim Cassidy, the champion defeated 1991 titleholder Let’s Elope by 2.4 lengths with last year’s Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup winner Elvstroem a further 1.8 lengths away in third place. Mummify and Northerly were fourth and fifth respectively.

While the winning margin was less than the phenomenal 7 lengths by which Might and Power won the 1997 Caulfield Cup, the victory over a field of nine other modern greats confirmed the mighty stayer’s indubitable class. On a good track under blue skies at Classic Caulfield, Might and Power posted the respectable time of 2:27.30. Leading rails bookmaker Alan Eskander had Might and Power starting theoretical favourite at $3.50, with Let’s Elope at $4.50 and Elvstroem at $8.00.

The event was broadcast live by TVN and webcast on www.tvn.com.au

Melbourne Racing Club Chief executive Warran Brown said:

“The Virtual Caulfield Cup has proven a real source of fascination for racing fans, and hopefully this result will settle a few arguments that have been raging since its inception. Might and Power was a superb racehorse whose remarkable 1997 Caulfield Cup victory remains firmly embedded in the hearts and minds of sporting fans across the country. He well deserves the title of Classic Caulfield Cup Champion. The promotion was a great success, with over 10,000 entries.”

Expertform analyst Danny Power said:

“Our computations had Might and Power emerge as a clear winner, demonstrating just what a super racehorse he was. Relatively unburdened at 52.5 kilograms, he just had too much stamina and finishing speed for the heavier weighted horses. At level weights it would have been a much closer result, but our analysis shows he still would have nudged out Northerly to take victory.”

The winner of the major public prize for picking the winning trifecta of 6,10,3, a table for ten at Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup Day, was Lloyd Mackay of Jane Brook, Western Australia.

The 2005 Virtual Caulfield Cup was staged by Melbourne Racing Club in association with the Herald Sun, TVN and Expertform.

The Virtual Caulfield Cup can be viewed at www.melbourneracingclub.net.au or www.tvn.com.au

Expertform Virtual Caulfield Cup Finishing Order


Place Horse Saddlecloth No. Margin
1 Might and Power 6 0.00
2 Let's Elope 10 2.40
3 Elstroem 3 4.20
4 Mummify 5 4.30
5 Northerly 1 4.40
6 Tristarc 8 4.70
7 Ethereal 9 5.00
8 Sky Heights 2 5.70
9 Doriemus 7 6.00
10 Tautfan's Melody 4 6.20

Ratings Description

1. Might and Power

Earned a career peak of 127.2 dominating his Caulfield Cup from the front. His rating was proved by his thrashing of previous Cup winner Doriemus, who in running 2nd to him earns a rating 1 length inferior to his Cup win. Easily the most dominant and impressive Caulfield Cup winner of the last 20 years and a worthy winner.

2. Let’s Elope

With only 48.5 kgs on her back this mare was always going to be hard to stop, but in this race she just happened to run into one better. She earned a ratings figure of 116 in her Caulfield Cup. She got to the level of 121 later in her career when carrying WFA in the Australia Cup. A strong finisher, the pace set by Might and Power would suit, it would be very difficult for horses like Northerly, Elvstroem and Mummify to hold this mare out given her light weight.

3. Elvstroem

Defeated the champion mare Makybe Diva in his Cauflield Cup, rating 119. Though he rates higher than Let’s Elope, he concedes her 4.5 kgs in weight, which is the difference. His was a very tough win, Makybe Diva looked to have him covered down most of the straight, and it takes a very good horse to hold her out. He has since proved his rating, achieving 119 and 120 in Australia since. He has also won a Group 1 in Dubai since and placed in others around the world.

4. Mummify

Broke Might and Power’s track record winning his Caulfield Cup of 1993. He led that day, but would take the sit off this hot pace. He rated 118, which with a weight pull of 0.5 kilograms from Elvstroem would almost be enough to run 3rd. It would be photo, but he would just miss out. Mummify confirmed his rating many times since and has surpassed it twice.

5. Northerly

Northerly won the Caulfield Cup of 2002, defeating subsequent Cox Plate winner Fields of Omagh. He carried the most of any of the Virtual Field, with 58kgs. This would unfortunately stop him running a place in a field like this, though. If the handicapper were to give this horse 58 kgs in this field it would be deemed most unfair, however that is what he carried to victory in his year. Interestingly if this race were run at level weights Northerly would run 2nd, beaten only by Might and Power. His rating of 121 makes him the 2nd highest rating Caulfield Cup winner in the Virtual Field.

6. Tristarc

The Grandmother of the field, this mare won the AJC Derby in the same year as her Caulfield Cup. She rated 111 winning the AJC Derby and 116 winning her Caulfield Cup, which with her light weight of 50.5 kilograms is enough to bring her to 6th place.

7. Ethereal

Winning the Caulfield Cup of 2001 before going on to win the Melbourne Cup, this mare rated 115 beating previous winner Sky Heights in the process. Her rating is, however, 6 points inferior to the 2nd placed mare Let’s Elope and she also gives her 1.5 kilograms. A task in this field but not disgraced. She will be making up her ground late off this hot pace.

8. Sky Heights

Again finishing just behind Ethereal, this Caulfield Cup winner of 1999 rated 117 but is forced to lump 56.5 kilograms. He would not be able to give 4 kgs to Might and Power and 8 kgs to Let’s Elope and keep up with them. His Caulfield Cup was arguably not as strong as the others. Placegetters Laebeel and Inaflury were only Group 3 and Listed race winners respectively. The ratings bear this out, with this year rating moderately in comparison to the others.

9. Doriemus

A super horse in his own right, winning a Caulfield Cup, a Melbourne Cup, placing in another behind Might and Power, winning a Queen Elizabeth, running 2nd in the Sydney Cup with 59 kgs, this horse suffers in this virtual Caulfield Cup field because he was undoubtedly a better horse later on than when he won his Cup. He rated 117 winning his Caulfield Cup, carrying 52 kgs and beat Count Chivas, Beaux Art and Protara’s Bay home. With the exception of the 3200m specialist Count Chivas it cannot be argued that the beaten brigade are real Group 1 horse’s. Over 2400 Count Chivas was not at his best but was able to place in this weaker year. Doriemus certainly got better and better as his career went on, his 2nd to Might and Power beaten a nose in the Melbourne Cup of 1997 arguably his best run, and one that earned him a rating of 117. He is beaten 6 lengths in this Virtual Field by Might and Power, and when he did come up against him in a real Caulfield Cup, he was beaten 7.5, with extra weight.

10. Taufan’s Melody

The villain of the field, Taufan’s Melody skittled many of the main chances in his year, two of whom went on to quinella the Melbourne Cup a fortnight later in Champagne and Jezabeel. Whilst he rated OK, returning 117 with 53.5 kgs, he got it under slightly false pretences, and unfortunately in this Virtual Caulfield Cup some karma has come into play – Ray Cochrane has found himself unable to get closer than 3 wide for most of the journey and is pushed 4 wide on the home turn. Having to race wide against a cracking speed set by Might and Power has meant that this horse weakens to run at the tail of the field.