1997 Melbourne Cup

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1997 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
Location Flemington Racecourse
Date4 Nov 1997
Distance3200 Meters
Winning horse Might and Power
Winning time3:18.3
Final odds7/2
Jockey Jim Cassidy
Trainer Jack Denham
SurfaceTurf
←  1996
1998  →

Might And Power shook off Linesman though, at the 300 he raced out by two lengths with Doriemus challenging, Ebony Grosve getting a rail's run followed by Grandmaster and Markham. Might and Power the leader inside the 200 two lengths in front of Linesman and then Doriemus on the outside. Might and Power the leader, Doriemus trying hard is coming at him. Might and Power and Doriemus, Doriemus getting to Might ad Power they hit the line photo, oh! Nothing between Doriemus or Might And Power in a close go.

Commentator Greg Miles describes the climax of the race

The 1997 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 4 November 1997. The race, run over 3,200 metres (1.988 mi), at Flemington Racecourse.

The race was won by Might And Power who completed the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double after winning the former by seven lengths which incurred a 3.5 kg penalty. In both races 1995 Cup winner Doriemus finished second. Leading from the front under Jim Cassidy Might And Power held off Doriemus whose jockey Greg Hall famously flashed his whip in a victory salute only for Might and Power to win in the Photo finish.

Might and Power would go on to win Tancred Stakes, AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Doomben Cup, Cox Plate (joining Rising Fast as the only horse to win all races in the Spring Grand Slam) to claim the tile of World Champion Stayer of 1997-98. [1]

The 1997 race was the second victory for Jim Cassidy, who had previously won the 1983 Melbourne Cup with Kiwi. It was the only Melbourne Cup win for veteran trainer Jack Denham. Might And Power was the first of three Melbourne Cup winners for the sire Zabeel, followed by Jezabeel in 1998 and Efficient in 2007.

The race was also noteworthy because of serial pest Peter Hore who ran onto the track during the race. [2]

Field

This is a list of horses which ran in the 1997 Melbourne Cup. [3]

PlaceHorseTrainerJockey
1st Might and Power Jack Denham Jim Cassidy
2nd Doriemus Lee Freedman Greg Hall
3rdMarkhamCliff Brown Mick Dittman
4thHarbour DuesLady Anne HerriesR Cochrane
5thLinesman Gai Waterhouse Larry Cassidy
6thArabian StoryLord Huntingdon Frankie Dettori
7thSkybeauL Smith Dwayne Dunn
8thEbony Grosve Graeme Rogerson Shane Dye
9thSapioSylvia Kay Danny Nikolic
10thGrandmaster Bart Cummings L Beasley
11thCourt Of HonourPeter Hayes Brent Thomson
12thMagnet BayD Frye Chris Johnson
13thVialli Paul O'Sullivan B York
14thAlways Aloof Lee Freedman Steven King
15thScrupulousJ SmithM Carson
16thYobroK RobertsG Cooksley
17thSunny LaneCharlie GogginB Stanley
18thMarble Halls Lee Freedman Damien Oliver
19thAlfa Bart Cummings Darren Beadman
20thBonsai PipelineR ThomasGary Grylls
21stCrying LaneA JohnsonGreg Childs
22ndCount ChivasS MorrishD Brereton

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References

  1. ↑ O'Reilly, Paddy (2016). "Might and Power (1997)". Facts, Stats & Trivia of The Melbourne Cup. Melbourne: New Holland Publishers Pty Ltd. p. 132. ISBN   9781742579054.
  2. ↑ "Man whose body was found hogtied and dumped in a Newcastle Park shared house with serial pest Peter Hore". heraldsun.com.au. 28 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "1997 Melbourne Cup". millersguide.identika.com.au. 28 October 2021.
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