Next weekend’s Caulfield Cup is calling for Anthony & Sam Freedman‘s talented mare Deny Knowledge who was enormous leading all-the-way to deny the beaten odds-on favourite Mr Brightside in the Might And Power 2024 results at Caulfield.
Team Hayes’ champion weight-for-age galloper Mr Brightside was all the rage in betting on this year’s Group 1 $1 million Might And Power (2000m) on Caulfield Guineas Day but ultimately had to settle for second when unable to run down the front-running Deny Knowledge.
A seven-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai, Deny Knowledge became the fifth mare since 2013 to take out the race formerly known as the Caulfield Stakes and the first Probabeel in 2021.
Recent winner of the Grafton Cup, she franked the form out of the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) when improving off her fifth behind Buckaroo from September 21.
Deny Knowledge was well-rated and ridden to perfection by jockey Mark Zahra who got her to the front as expected and never relinquished the lead to take out the race for the third time.
“I think she’s classier than probably people give her credit,” co-trainer Sam Freedman told Racing.com post-victory.
“Her run in the Underwood was very good, she took off early and was still there fighting it out towards the finish.
“And look, we may back up next week if she pulls up well, maybe the frontrunner in the Caulfield Cup, yeah, why not?”
Deny Knowledge got out to some eight lengths on her closest rival with 800m left to go, cornered in front and gave the rest of the field something to chase home.
Mr Brightside did his best in his usual stalking position moving up into second on the straight trying to wear down the leader.
Despite his best efforts it was Deny Knowledge who stole the show saluting by 3/4 of a length ahead of a quick back-up into the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) over the mile and a half next weekend.
She will relish the drop back to just 50.5kg in the Caulfield Cup weights after carting 57kg with ease to victory in the Might And Power at weight-for-age.
Punters need to look back to Sydeston in 1990 to find the last horse to complete the Caulfield Stakes – Caulfield Cup double in the same year.
Current all-in 2024 Caulfield Cup odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have Deny Knowledge into $21 to be the next.
“I think Caulfield Cup maybe slightly more likely (than Cox Plate),” Freedman confirmed.
“Who knows, she’s relaxing well enough, she might have a crack at a Melbourne Cup, it looks like she may be getting tired on the line, but she’ll sustain that same gallop for a very long time.”
The iconic Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) runs at Flemington on Tuesday November 5 and Deny Knowledge is at a current quote of $34 to win the world’s richest handicap.
Click here for the latest all-in 2024 Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Mr Brightside meanwhile lost few admirers on his way to the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 26 for which he pays $11 to win through the race sponsor.
2024 Might And Power Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 6 | 57kg | $8.50 | ||
| 2 | 1 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 0.75L | 1 | 59kg | $1.75F | |
| 3 | 5 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1.5L | 8 | 57kg | $4 | |
| 4 | 4 | ADELAIDE RIVER (IRE) | Kris Lees | Ben Melham | 4.5L | 3 | 59kg | $21 | |
| 5 | 8 | COCO SUN | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Blake Shinn | 6.25L | 2 | 56kg | $12 | |
| 6 | 3 | KALAPOUR (IRE) | Kris Lees | Damian Lane | 9L | 4 | 59kg | $41 | |
| 7 | 2 | VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O’Brien | Billy Egan | 19L | 5 | 59kg | $21 | |
| 8 | 7 | JENNILALA | Ciaron Maher | Declan Bates | 44L | 7 | 57kg | $41 |
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