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Horse racing is much more than an excuse for gambling. It is a love for the beauty, grace and speed of the horse. It can also be an intellectual battle of examining competing facts and trying to formulate the future from results of the past. In some ways it is an investigation, as performed by an eager detective. And in other ways it can be the thrill of a crossword puzzle, with multiple possible responses, but ultimately only one correct answer. It is a thing of beauty as much as it is a matter of commerce. I have been involved with horse racing in both practical and intellectual ways. From time spent as an apprentice jockey, to later the research of bloodlines in the multimillion dollar world of thoroughbred breeding and sales. And for the past twelve years I have provided speedrating information to the racing industry and public through my company: Speedratings (www.speedratings.com.au).

White And Power

May 21st 2008 09:41
Might And Power was one horse I suggested as good enough to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (if he had been an entire). His performances in the Spring of 1997 were breathtaking with his seven length Caulfield Cup victory as one of the most devastating performances ever witnessed on a racetrack. His speedfigures were the highest I have ever recorded. He followed this display of sheer brilliance in the Caulfield Cup (this run over the Arc distance) with an incredible show of courage to lead the Melbourne Cup field all the way and fight off the resolute late challenge of the champion stayer Doriemus. Both Crying Game and Linesman had pressured him at vital stages of the race (midrace and home turn) and this should have left him soft and vulnerable for a late challenge from Doriemus. Might And Power lifted as Doriemus claimed him and refused to be passed.


Such ability is indicative of a freak of nature. The ability to run so fast, for so long, is not a natural attribute. This year at the 2008 Magic Million Sales a three-quarter sister to Might And Power was bought for $275,000 by John Singleton and Andrew Johns.

Before even gracing a racetrack this filly is obviously, and already, a freak of nature. She is the only foal of white colour to be born among the 18,000 registered foals of 2006. She will be raffled at a later date as part of a marketing campaign for Bluetongue beer.

white Zabeel filly
white Zabeel filly



(photo: Jeremy Piper Foxsports)

Carmina Burana (her dam) has produced only one (minor) winner from her previous five live foals. Carmina Burana is out of the stakes-placed English mare Benediction who produced 11 foals, 10 who raced, and with 9 of these as winners. Included among these are the stakes-winners: Might And Power, Matter Of Honour, and Bastet (a stakes-winner in France). Carmina Burana is the only foal of Benediction not to race. Genetics is a complicated science and it does appear that the previous Carmina Burana foals have thrown to the (lack of) ability of their dam. But perhaps this closer (three-quarter) link with Might And Power will energise this stagnant portion of a potent gene pool. Let’s hope that this filly (tipped to be named White And Power) is memorable for more than her most rare colour.

There are 17 white horses registered in the Australian Stud Book, and only 100 white thoroughbreds in the world.

The last white thoroughbred to race in Australia (in the early 1990's) was The Bride, who retired as a maiden with four career placings. I can remember the white horse (though with some splashes of brown) Khaleben racing in Melbourne. History seems to tell us that you are not twice blessed as a freak of nature.


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