Alligator Blood is tipped to continue his ace spring campaign with the cult galloper heading betting on the Group 1 $1 million Neds Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
2023 Underwood Stakes winner Alligator Blood is the horse to beat in the Neds Might And Power 2023 at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Caulfield Guineas Day headlines the racing action in Melbourne this weekend with a triple-shot of Group 1 racing including the Might And Power race that was formerly known as the Caulfield Stakes.
A host of potential Ladbrokes Cox Plate-bound horses face off in the million-dollar weight-for-age clash with betting led by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained marvel Alligator Blood.
The All Too Hard seven-year-old franked the Mr Brightside form backing-up from two good runs behind the country’s leading miler before a successful title defence in the Underwood Stakes over 1800m here at the Caulfield track.
The ‘Gator now pays $2.30 in Might And Power betting at Ladbrokes to secure another career Group 1 and win over the 2000m distance for the first time.
He jumps from gate three fourth-up and fit with Tim Clark aboard and looks a strong chance to stretch the extra furlong and salute for the punters.
Alligator Blood faces nine rivals on Saturday with the main danger at current Might And Power odds of $3.90 is the airborne import with a Royal back story, Just Fine.
The former Queen-owned European is also now with the Waterhouse/Bott stable and chases his fifth win on the trot.
The Sea The Stars gelding is undefeated down under winning all three Australian starts including stepping-up in grade to salute in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Epsom Day.
He is back down in distance for the Might And Power, heads south for the first time ahead of a Melbourne Cup bid, and goes up notably from 50kg to 59kg so needs to answer a few questions here.
The early Might And Power market mover meanwhile well-supported in the markets is the Edward Cummings-trained multiple Group 1 winning mare Duais ($5.50 into $4.80).
Blake Shinn rides this talented daughter of Shamus Award who is out to break a lengthy winning drought.
She looked back to her best in the Underwood running a slashing third at big odds only a length beaten.
Unlike Alligator Blood, Duais is a three-time winner over the 2000m distance and will relish getting up in trip now fourth-up and ready to fire.
Outside of the dominant trio some of the runners chasing an upset include Chris Waller’s Rosehill Guineas winner at the distance Lindermann ($14) with the rails run for jockey Joao Moreira and the Grahame Begg-trained Nonconformist ($17) who can finish hard here.
The 2023 Neds Might And Power is set to run as Race 7 at 3:45pm (AEDT) as part of Caulfield’s 10-race card on Saturday.
2023 Might And Power Stakes Field & Barriers
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51x140x421 | ALLIGATOR BLOOD | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 3 | 59kg | 117 | ||
| 2 | 01x22460x0 | VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O’Brien | Billy Egan | 8 | 59kg | 106 | ||
| 3 | 0x18402x07 | NONCONFORMIST | Grahame Begg | Harry Coffey | 5 | 59kg | 106 | ||
| 4 | 16x69x00x0 | ALENQUER (FR) | Michael Moroney | Mark Zahra | 7 | 59kg | 112 | ||
| 5 | 3x05420x80 | HEZASHOCKA (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Damian Lane | 9 | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 6 | 386061×111 | JUST FINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jordan Childs | 4 | 59kg | 106 | ||
| 7 | 5x4430x762 | FORGOT YOU (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | John Allen | 6 | 59kg | 97 | ||
| 8 | x51210x048 | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 1 | 58kg | 105 | ||
| 9 | 880x43x793 | DUAIS | Edward Cummings | Blake Shinn | 10 | 57kg | 112 | ||
| 10 | 415931×173 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | Michael Kent | Wiremu Pinn (a) | 2 | 57kg | 97 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
