Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m)

On Saturday at Caulfield – all eyes will be on the four Group 1s: Caulfield Guineas, Thousand Guineas, Caulfield Stakes and Toorak Handicap, but there is another interesting race worth keeping an eye on. The Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) will also be run. This race has a rich history and has at times provided winners of the big staying races later on in the spring. There are a few unique facts about the Herbert Power and it’s link to the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. The first is that the winner of the Herbert Power gets an automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup and is exempt from the Caulfield Cup ballot/order of entry. The second interesting fact is that the winner of the Herbert Power CAN NOT receive a weight penalty for the Caulfield Cup – it is a “penalty free race” for the Caulfield Cup. However the winner of the Herbert Power can be given a weight penalty for the Melbourne Cup at the discretion of the handicapper.



There has been several name changes to the Herbert Power Stakes over the years:

1898–1919 - Eclipse Stakes
1920–1992 - Herbert Power Handicap
1993–1996 - Quick-Eze Stakes
1997 - Perrier Mineral Water Stakes
1998–1999 - Perrier Stakes
2000 - Herbert Power Stakes
2001–08 - Winning Edge Presentations Stakes
2009 onwards - Herbert Power Stakes

The Following horses have achieved the Herbert Power Stakes/Caulfield Cup Double:



2007: Master O'Reilly



1970: Beer Street



1955: Rising Fast



1953: My Hero



1907: Poseidon



1906: Poseidon



1905: Marvel Loch


Other Information:

2017: Lord Fandango won the Hedbert Power (53kg) and went on to run 4th in the Caulfield Cup (50kg). Boom Time ran 4th in the Herbert Power (56.5kg) and went on to win the Caulfield Cup (52kg)


The following horses have achieved the Herbert Power Stakes/Melbourne Cup Double:


1999: Rogan Josh

1978: Arwon

1976: Van Der Hum

1973: Gala Supreme

1944: Sirius

1942: Colonus

1906: Poseidon


Other Information:

Since 1970, the following Melbourne Cup winners have run in the Herbert Power Stakes before going on to win the Cup in the same year, below is how they performed in the Herbert Power Stakes:


2015: Prince Of Penzance - 8th

2014: Protectionist - 4th

2009: Shocking - 2nd

1999: Rogan Josh - 1st

1986: At Talaq - 4th

1981: Just A Dash - 7th

1980: Beldale Ball - 2nd

1978: Arwon - 1st

1976: Van Der Hum - 1st

1973: Gala Supreme - 1st

1970: Baghdad Note - 2nd

Other Information

2005: Leica Falcon won the Herbert Power and then went on to run 4th in the Melbourne Cup.

2004: Zazzman ran 3rd in the Herbert Power (then called the Winning Edge Presentation Stakes), and went on to run 3rd in the Melbourne Cup.

1996: Skybeau ran 3rd in the Herbert Power Stakes (then called the Quick Eze Stakes), and went on to run 3rd in the Melbourne Cup.


So....who is your tip to win the race this year?

Of the locals, Big Duke was given no chance at all in The Metropolitan.
Was a shocking ride, with clear running on Sat he is the one to beat

Of the internationals they all could win without surprising me

I am pretty confident Gallic Chieftain is the horse to beat. His run the other day was fantastic.

The imports are good but they are not superior.

Luck will play a big role.

Terrific post Jamal. It is posts like these that I still stick my nose around this site for a gander occasionally. I really like Gallic Chieftain too but the o/s horses concern me as I historically have trouble rating them correctly so I'll only have a small play in some exotics and just enjoy the race.

One of my friend said:

"Whoever wins the Herbert Power, will go on to win the Melbourne Cup and Mackinnon Stakes"

Its a big predicion and a difficult treble for a horse to acbieve.

I think my friend has high hopes because he said its a strong Herbert Power field.

djebel wrote: Jamal wrote: One of my friend said: "Whoever wins the Herbert Power, will go on to win the Melbourne Cup and Mackinnon Stakes" Its a big predicion and a difficult treble for a horse to acbieve. I think my friend has high hopes because he said its a strong Herbert Power field. He could be correct about the Cup but I highly doubt the treble. No trainer will run the Melbourne Cup winner the following Saturday.

No horse from the Melbourne Cup will back up into the Mackinnon. That’d be silly.

I've been patiently waiting until Rising Red gets out to a suitable distance and today's the day.
Am hoping Linda is super positive out of the gates and either rolls to the lead or at least on pace and makes it a dead set staying test and will run the rest off their legs.

** last time he drew barrier 11 was his last win :) **