Jack Denham, who moulded the great Might And Power, was more the mallee root of slow-growing tough Aussie trees compared to Annabel Neasham’s English rose.
Few, if any, racehorse trainers have climbed the demanding turf ladder as fast as Neasham, emphasised by Saturday’s group 1 $1 million Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield, in which she has strong fancies Zaaki and Mo’unga.
Neasham, in a little more than two years, has gained quality and quantity on two scores once much shunned: gender and land of origin. Poms, now accepted, previously found it hard to make an impact here at the training caper.
Sour in most aspects, Denham’s rise to stardom was longer and more demanding. Always willing to give a broke a helping hand, he would conversely go to extremes to inconvenience those he begrudged, be they media or others. Owners didn’t need soft words: they were comforted by his results.
Neasham could not be more different, with her endearing smile and smooth dialogue. Given a leg up by Zaaki, like her an import, Neasham has skyrocketed. Not surprisingly, she did her initial Australian work experience under Gai Waterhouse before going to finishing school with Ciaron Maher.
It could be argued Neasham is best with the blue bloods from abroad, most regarded as being too soft for Australian conditions. Still, Denham tuned the Irish-bred Natski, who should have beaten Empire Rose in the 1988 Melbourne Cup.
Zaaki is a strong fancy in the Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield.Credit:Racing Photos
Denham gained his foundation, long before Waterhouse, who didn’t rise through the ranks as quickly as Neasham, not least because it was much tougher for female trainers at the time.
Nowadays, Hong Kong billionaire Tony Fung, the money behind Aquis Farm, earlier in the year reckoned he had 40 horses in training with Neasham, while Kacy Fogden has Best Of Bordeaux in Saturday’s Roman Consul Stakes at Royal Randwick.
“I believe horses have their own spirit,” Fung told Melbourne media. “Although they are beasts, they have that spirit. If you bring that out in them, they can do miracles. Once you care properly for them, they will perform. These ladies [Neasham and Fogden] have the ear for horses and that’s the key element I was looking for.”
Neasham has Laws Of Indices, part owned by Fung, in the group 1 Toorak who takes on the promising I Wish I Win. Fung was the managing part-owner of Best of Bordeaux when second in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill but the colt is now raced by a bevy of high-rollers, including Coolmore, anxious for the colt to justify stud potential. Whether they would want that tested on Randwick after the recent deluge, with the rail eight metres out, is a query. Rival Sejardan already
has a heavy 10 triumph at headquarters on his scoresheet.
Obviously, Caulfield will be firmer for a program traditionally one of the best on the Australian calendar, with the group 1 Caulfield Guineas as well as the Toorak and Might And Power in the elite category.
The 2000-metre weight-for-age test has only eight acceptors but it is an intriguing contest. Zaaki (118) has equal top benchmark with four-year-old Anamoe (118). Apart from Nature Strip, they could be the best horses in Australia.
Struck over the head by a rival jockey’s whip, Zaaki was a plugging third to Alligator Blood in the Underwood at Sandown recently, a stronger form reference than Anamoe’s last-start George Main decision over Icebath at Randwick.
However, Anamoe pulled up lame and has already showed his Caulfield attraction, taking the Caulfield Guineas on the corresponding program last year. Still, they have to conquer the Waterhouse–Adrian Bott bone and muscle, with Alligator Blood aided by the front-running skill of Tim Clark, who was so good in the Underwood.
With the differing visions of Neasham and Denham, where does Waterhouse bloom? Wattle, golden wattle.
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