In racing, nothing is ever certain — and Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield proved it again.
What was billed as a two-horse duel between $1.60 favourite Treasurethe Moment and Chris Waller’s Buckaroo ($2.70) turned into a stunning tactical victory for Globe ($8.50), who made every post a winner under a perfectly judged ride from Blake Shinn.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding dictated terms from the outset and was never headed, cruising to a three-length triumph over Treasurethe Moment, with Buckaroo another three-quarters of a length away in third.
Globe’s connections had opted to stay in Melbourne for the feature rather than chase the seemingly easier option in Sydney’s Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) — a move that paid off handsomely with the $600,000 winner’s cheque.
“It was a heist, wasn’t it?” Price said. “But you know it’s a horse race, not a mathematical formula, so we get up every day and dream these dreams.”
Price admitted that the Might And Power wasn’t originally on Globe’s radar. “When he started this campaign, this race wasn’t even in our minds,” he said. “But it’s one of those races, like the Underwood Stakes, that can throw up a surprise result. He got beaten in a Ballarat Cup over 2000m as an immature horse, but today it all came together.”
Shinn said the small field made tactics crucial. “We were the underdog, but in these tactical races, upsets can happen,” he said. “There was no pressure — we were the obvious leader, and I knew the others might overthink it. Globe’s a natural front runner. What a thrill to pull it off.”
Meanwhile, trainer Matt Laurie said Treasurethe Moment’s next move — possibly toward the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 — would depend on how she recovers. “We’ll see how she pulls up,” Laurie said. “She prefers a genuine tempo and more pressure up front. We’ve got a couple of weeks to decide whether to play on or freshen her up.”
For betting markets on upcoming Group 1s like the Might And Power and Cox Plate, visit Australia’s best betting sites.
