Results in racing are never assured.
The Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday attracted a field of four and was considered a two-horse race between the $1.60 favourite Treasurethe Moment and the Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo ($2.70).
But it was left to a brilliant tactical front-running ride by Blake Shinn aboard Globe ($8.50) to score a three-length win and relegate Treaurethe Moment into second place three lengths astern with Buckaroo a further three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Globe had always promised a big race win and the stable elected to chase the $600,000 first prize instead of what looked an easier option in Sydney in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill.
It proved an inspired decision and moved Price to say ‘I will treasure that moment’ as Globe crossed the line.
“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 said when Globe started his campaign the Might And Power had not entered his thoughts.
But two races he had watched over many years, the Underwood Stakes and Saturday’s contest, had over the years thrown up some strange result.
“I thought, well, it’s going to be a small field, and he did get beaten in a Ballarat Cup over 2000 metres as an immature horse,” Price said.
“It’s just one of those days where, like I said, it’s not a mathematical formula, it’s a horse race.”
Globe was third favourite in Saturday’s race and Shinn knew he had to get the tactics right if he was going to win the race.
“We were going in a bit of the underdog, but as we’ve seen time and time again in these small fields, it’s quite tactical, and an upset can happen more often than not,” Shinn said.
“We went in there with no pressure as the obvious leader. I knew potentially the other riders were going to be more worried about themselves, and Globe’s a natural front runner.
“What a thrill to be able to pull it off.”
Trainer Matt Laurie said he would and see how Treasurethe Moment pulls up before confirming whether the mare presses on to the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
“We’ve got a few options, we can play on, change our sights or give her a holiday, but we’ve got two weeks to decide,” Laurie said.
“I would have loved to have been winning today but I haven’t been super happy about tackling small fields.
“She would appreciate horses being tackled up front, with the pressure applied and she’s skiing behind, but whether she’s going as good as she’s had a bit of an ordeal, we’ll see.”
