In a whirlwind one year and one week in 1997 and 1998, Might And Power held a racing nation in thrall in a manner only the very best champions do.
The headline act for the son of Zabeel (NZ) was that in the space of those 372 days, he achieved what no horse had in 45 years and no horse has achieved since. He sits along Rising Fast (NZ) (Alonzo {GB}) as the only horse to have won Melbourne's three greatest races, the G1 Caulfield Cup, G1 Cox Plate and G1 Melbourne Cup.
But simply quoting the history books does not do justice to both the devastating and dramatic manner in which he won those races, as well as the four other Group 1 successes in that time period under the guidance of trainer Jack Denham.
His story starts out in New Zealand, with his breeder Nelson Schick of Windsor Park Stud. Schick had purchased his dam Benediction (GB) (Day Is Done {Ire}), along with three other mares at the 1990 Tattersalls Sale and brought her to Windsor Park.
She was initially mated with resident stallions Kaapstad (NZ) and Star Way (GB) and was then sent to Cambridge Stud's Zabeel in his second season. When a colt arrived in 1993, Schick was pleased enough, but observed he was far from the perfect article and would need time to develop.
The colt was sent to the 1995 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where Inglis' Jonathan D'Arcy noted he was a 'big colt, off-set in knee and rotated, fair walker, scopey colt'.
Jonathan D'Arcy noted Might And Power was a 'big... scopey colt' as a yearling at the 1995 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale
"The cannon bone came out of the knee at a slightly offset angle. That doesn't stop horses if they've got the heart, the will to win. But it certainly would have put some buyers off. He wasn't 100 per cent correct," D'Arcy told Helen Thomas in her 2007 book A Horse Called Mighty.
"That doesn't stop horses if they've got the heart, the will to win. But it certainly would have put some buyers off. He wasn't 100 per cent correct." - Jonathan D'Arcy
Set among Australia's best yearlings, it wasn't a total surprise to Schick that the colt was passed in, but soon after he went through the ring, Anthony Cummings offered $40,000 for him. The deal was done, and while the circumstances of how he ended up in Nick Moraitis' ownership are contested, it was the well-known fresh produce businessman who ended up owning the horse.
After being gelded, Might And Power began his racing career with Cummings, where he won his first race at Randwick at his third start, but after his first campaign, the trainer and Moraitis fell out and the horse headed to the stables of Jack Denham, with his son Allan in support.
He was clearly a horse of talent, but his high action made him awkward to manage.
After initially starting his career with Anthony Cummings, Might And Power was transferred to the stable of Jack Denham, pictured with jockey Jim Cassidy
Power in action
While he had shown a degree of his extraordinary ability as a 3-year-old, running second in a G1 Canterbury Guineas and fourth in a G1 AJC Derby before winning the G3 Packer Plate by 6l, it wasn't until Caulfield Cup Day 1997 that his champion qualities were put on show.
The atmosphere trackside that day when Jim Cassidy slipped Might And Power some rein around the corner and he kicked 4l clear of his rivals was one of a slowly dawning realisation that we were watching something truly special. The further he went, the further he was in front and at the line, the margin was 7.5l over legendary stayer Doriemus (NZ) (Norman Pentaquad {USA}). He stopped the clock at 2:26.20, setting a new track record, carrying 52.5kg.
Watch: Might And Power win the 1997 G1 Caulfield Cup
The famous track had rarely witnessed such dominance in its greatest race, and the legend of Might And Power was born in the mind of the broader racing public.
Barrier to post
In many ways, his Melbourne Cup win of 1997 was as much about the margin of victory as was his Caulfield Cup win 17 days earlier. However, in this instance, it was the closeness of the margin between he and Doriemus on the line which further built his legend.
Might And Power was handed a 3.5kg penalty off his massive Caulfield Cup win, but that did not deter much of the nation from believing the hype and having him start a 7-2 favourite ($4.50) in Australia's greatest handicap.
If Cassidy was to pull off a similar daring all-the-way win on the 4-year-old, he would have to defy history as the first horse to win both Cups having led from barrier to post. But the New Zealand-born jockey has never been the sort of figure to shirk at a challenge and he did not hesitate pushing forward from barrier two to lead the race.
In fact, Might And Power pulled his way up the straight the first time, Cassidy straining to keep him settled in what was his first test over the distance. He settled eventually and the jockey rode confidently as the field, headed by his brother Larry Cassidy on Linesman (NZ) (Touching Wood {USA}) swept up to him approaching the turn.
He shook off that challenge at the furlong marker, but closing was the 1995 Cups champ Doriemus. Desperate for the post, Might And Power fought doggedly, but his rival dived on the line. So confident was Greg Hall on the Lee Freedman-trained stayer, he rose high in his irons punching the sky in celebration. Cassidy would have the last laugh, as the photo went in his favour.
Might And Power became the 10th horse to win both Cups in the same year. To put the achievement in further context, only one horse, Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}) in 2001, has done it since.
Building the legend
He resumed in the autumn with a trio of close-up placings in the G1 Orr S., G1 St George S. and G1 Ranvet S. before another brilliant front-running performance in the G1 Mercedes S., where he won by 5l. He then trounced his rivals in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. by a record 10l, a simply amazing win, which further enhanced his legend.
Enhancing the legend after a Group 1 win in the Queen Elizabeth S.
He headed to Queensland, winning the G2 Hollindale S. by close to 6l and then winning the G1 Doomben Cup before being sent for a spell, with one race high on his spring agenda, the G1 Cox Plate.
A win in the G2 Chelmsford S. separated two surprising defeats in the G2 Warwick S., and G1 George Main S. but any concerns over his form were put to bed when he comfortably won the G1 Caulfield S., his final lead-up run to the Cox Plate.
Treble on a Plate
His Cox Plate win in 1998 was not of the epic nature of his Cups wins a year earlier, but he did it with style and class and in the process broke the track record for the new Mooney Valley track, some 2.2 seconds, or 13l, quicker than Saintly (Sky Chase {NZ}) two years prior. It would be 17 years before a horse, in that case Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), would run a faster Cox Plate.
Might And Power following his G1 Cox Plate win
Two weeks' later he romped to a 7l victory in the G2 Queen Elizabeth S. at Flemington. The crowd that day wasn't to know it, but it was to prove his final racetrack victory.
A tendon problem had become evident and Denham had called off a trip to the Japan Cup, although his famously frosty relationship with the media ensured that the extent of Might And Power's issues were not publicly known for several months.
After a long convalescence and recovery, a decision as made to try a comeback in the spring of 2000. The comeback never took flight and he was retired after two uncharacteristically poor performances.
He remained one of Australia's most popular horses and was inducted into Australian Racing Hall Of Fame in 2002. With Moraitis' blessing, he toured the country, helping raise money for charity and cheering souls. He suffered a near fatal bout of colic in 2004, and eventually took up residence at Living Legends, on the northern outskirts of Melbourne where a host of star former racehorses reside.
Gallery: Might And Power remained one of Australia's most popular horses and was a resident of Living Legends
A tribute to a legend
It was there on Sunday morning at age 26, that his life came to an end.
Living Legends CEO & Veterinary Director, Dr Andrew Clarke, said he and the team were completely heartbroken to lose a very special horse.
“I am incredibly sad to have to let you know that Might And Power was euthanised in the early hours of this morning,” Dr Clarke said.
“Our hearts are with owner Nick Moraitis and Bob’s many fans, and also to our wonderful staff who cared for him every day. Living Legends will never be the same without our treasured Might And Power.
“A special thank you to Werribee Equine Centre for their efforts to save his life,” he said.
Owner Nick Moraitis with Might And Power
A Mighty legacy
The legacy of Might And Power is very much in the impact he made on racing fans around the nation, both in his brilliant career and in his time in retirement.
The legacy of his dam Benediction, imported to New Zealand all those years ago by Schick, also remains strong through her many descendants.
Her first foal, Miss Priority (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) produced two stakes winners. G1 Hong Kong Mile winner Lucky Owners (NZ) (Danehill {USA}) went onto become a sire, while his half-sister Miss Power Bird (Mukaddamah {USA}) was a Listed winner who went on to become and influential broodmare in her own right. She is the granddam of Group 2 winner and sire Time For War (Snitzel) and well as Group 3 winner Hiflyer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Another of Miss Priority's daughters, Sumehra (NZ) (Stravinksy {USA}) produced the four-time Group 1 winner Mosheen (Fastnet Rock).
Aside from Might And Power, Benediction produced two other stakes-winners, Matter Of Honour (NZ) (Casual Lies {USA}) and Bastet (Ire) (Giant's Causeway {USA}).
Bastet carried on the family's reputation in Europe, producing two stakes winners, including French Group 1 winner Beauty Parlour (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
There are a host of other winners across the world that owe their existence to Schick's decision to purchase Benediction, and the subsequent deeds of her most famous son in putting the family's name up in lights.
