Chris Waller won the most famous small-field The Might And Power there has been, but don’t think that means the champion trainer is a fan of small fields.
But he has another one to deal with this weekend at Caulfield.
Waller’s classy gelding Buckaroo is one of just five acceptors for the $1 million Group 1, joined by Treasurethe Moment, Light Infantry Man, Globe and Hezashocka.
Light Infantry Man also features in the field for the $2 million Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill in Sydney with a decision on where he starts to be made in coming days.
This weekend’s race is not quite the replica of the 2016 The Might And Power, when Winx won in a field of three, and while Waller said there is upside to having fewer competitors, it was not his preference and prompted him to highlight the advantages of the divisive subject of pacemakers.
“Less to beat,” Waller said of the positive associated with a small field.
“(But) I don’t like no pace in any race – I’m a big fan of pacemakers, if they brought them in.
“It makes it easier for the punters (and) everyone to predict. Less pace (more) unpredictable, so it wouldn’t suit him.”
A pacemaker is a horse specifically entered for a race to ensure a solid tempo, regardless of whether it aids their chances of winning.
Pacemakers are permitted in some other racing jurisdictions but are banned in Australia.
Winx did not require a pacemaker in the 2016 The Might And Power, when she defeated Black Heart Bart and He Or She as a $1.24 favourite, which is Waller’s only win in the race.
Limited runners in the 2000m event formerly known as the Caulfield Stakes have been commonplace going back to when Bonecrusher defeated five rivals in 1986.
Northern Drake, So You Think, Ocean Park and Arcadia Queen also won in fields of six, while Atlantic Jewel and Probabeel had just four rivals the years they won.
Buckaroo heads into this year’s The Might And Power third-up, having placed in the Memsie Stakes (1400m), won by Treasurethe Moment, and Underwood Stakes (1800m).
The Underwood Stakes form was franked last weekend when Buckaroo’s conqueror, Sir Delius, won the Turnbull Stakes and Waller said his charge had come on from that performance.
“Second-up was awesome and third-up he should be ready to peak,” Waller said.
Waller said a decision on whether Buckaroo backs up in the Caulfield Cup with 59kg or heads to the following week’s Cox Plate will be made after Saturday’s race.
