Might And Power Stakes Racing Tips - No concerns for Sheza stepping up to the 2000m

The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained mare has established herself among the country's elite gallopers, but she faces a new challenge stepping beyond 1600m for the first time. The race also shapes as an important spring stepping stone for several rivals, with Birdman heading towards the Cox Plate (2040m) and Kingswood using the contest as his final lead-up to the Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Sheza Alibi has won three Group 1 races, including the Doncaster Mile (1600m) earlier this year, and was outstanding when defeating her rivals in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last month. She is a dominant $1.35 favourite to add another major to her record, although the additional 400m provides an interesting test. Connections have indicated that the mare has given every indication she will appreciate the distance, with the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick her next major assignment.

Birdman ($3.70) looks the obvious danger following his impressive victory in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m). The Chris Waller-trained import defeated Cosmic Crusader on that occasion, with the runner-up subsequently producing a dominant performance to claim the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington. That form has been significantly strengthened, and Birdman is already proven at 2000m. He is building towards the Cox Plate and will be looking to make a statement against one of Australia's most exciting mares.

Treasurethe Moment ($12) adds further intrigue after finishing runner-up last start. The Matt Laurie-trained mare has struggled to recapture her best form this preparation but is capable of much better and could improve with racing. Kingswood ($14) is another with claims after winning the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) first-up before finishing fourth behind Birdman in the Underwood Stakes. Trainer Gavin Bedgggood believes the gelding is progressing nicely towards the Caulfield Cup and expects him to be better suited ridden more conservatively.

The Might And Power Stakes has an outstanding honour roll featuring champions such as Winx, So You Think, Lonhro and Northerly. However, short-priced favourites have not always enjoyed success in recent editions, with Treasurethe Moment, Mr Brightside and Zaaki among the odds-on runners beaten in recent years. Interestingly, only two horses have completed the Makybe Diva Stakes–Might And Power Stakes double in the same spring, the most recent being How Now in 1976. Sheza Alibi will be looking to end that lengthy drought on Saturday.

There is no obvious leader in the six-horse field, which could make the opening stages particularly tactical. Treasurethe Moment is mapped to settle on speed from barrier three, while Kingswood is expected to be handy from gate five. Sheza Alibi and Torranzino are positioned in the midfield-to-backmarker range, with Birdman and Land Legend expected to settle towards the rear.

The lack of genuine early speed could result in a slowly run affair, placing an emphasis on positioning and the ability to sprint sharply when the tempo increases. Sheza Alibi has the acceleration to overcome an unfavourable race shape, but Birdman may need to ensure the favourite does not get too much of a tactical advantage. Treasurethe Moment could also benefit if allowed to control proceedings without excessive pressure.

Impossible to go past Sheza Alibi in the Might And Power Stakes, although there isn't a great deal of value available about her in a six-horse field. She steps up to 2000m for the first time, but everything she has done suggests the trip will suit, having been particularly strong late in her races and developing into a very reliable top-level performer. She handled the older horses with relative ease at Flemington last start, winning by three lengths, while her performance in the autumn when winning the Doncaster showed just how good she can be, running around 15 lengths faster than standard benchmark. Small fields can produce strange races, but Treasurethe Moment should ensure there is enough speed up front, with Kingswood also likely to settle handy, and Sheza Alibi should be able to strike when required. At the short quote, she may be better used as the anchor in exotics or same-race multis rather than simply backing her straight out. Kingswood could be the value runner to include underneath after his fourth in the Underwood Stakes (1800m), with the form around that performance subsequently holding up strongly.