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Veteran import Land Legend produced one of the biggest upsets of the Melbourne Spring Carnival when the $61 outsider denied hot favourite Sheza Alibi in a thrilling finish to Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Might And Power Stakes (2000m), revitalising his Cups credentials and putting a potential Caulfield Cup start firmly back on the table.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, the six-year-old son of Galileo rolled straight to the front under Ethan Brown and turned the weight-for-age feature into a genuine staying test, refusing to surrender when challenged in the straight to score by a short head over the heavily-backed $1.40 favourite. Birdman was a further 1¼ lengths away in third after the genuine tempo saw several of the fancied runners chasing throughout.
Maher revealed pre-race tactics centred on allowing the quirky stayer to roll forward and settle into a rhythm, a plan that paid off in spectacular fashion.
“He’s a legend now,” he told Racing Victoria.
“He ran his best race for us on a firm deck at Flemington, I think it was, and we thought with a muddling tempo we would go forward.
“I said to Brownie to keep him happy as he has a lot of fights with a lot of riders in trackwork and on race day.
“I thought it was a race where they might leave him alone, but I didn’t know he was going to go that quick.
“He did look happy during the run. He had his ears pricked. He was going quick, but he looked like he was enjoying himself, and so did Brownie.
“I thought coming down the side he’ll have a kick. I’m just thrilled.
“I can’t thank the Ballarat team enough. We thought we would move him up there because he can be a bit unruly and we thought just doing a bit extra every day up that hill gallop would be ideal. I think he’s been up it three times this week.
“I didn’t come to the races thinking I was going to win a Group 1 today, but I’m thrilled.”
The victory was Land Legend’s second Group 1 success following his 2024 Metropolitan triumph and immediately sparked discussion about a third attempt at the Group 1 $6.55 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) next Saturday.
Maher indicated a quick back-up remains under consideration, though the trainer is also weighing up alternative targets.
“He could. It was the right set-up today,” the master horseman said.
“The Caulfield Cup can be a charge of the light-brigade to the first bend which wouldn’t really suit him.
“So, whether he runs in a Caulfield Cup and a Cox Plate, or whether he runs in the Cox Plate, it’s a good problem to have. It’s good to have him back in form and I’m thrilled.”
Brown compared the result to last year’s surprise winner Globe and credited the horse for doing the hard work from start to finish.
“I said to Ciaron and Jack that it had a bit of a Globe feel about it,” he said.
“Globe won the race last year and he beat Treasurethe Moment at $1.20. Small field, blindfold off today and I think he was a bit sharper in the gates. Especially stepping away.
“He’s a rock hard fit horse. He’s won over 2600 (metres) bowling along so I was happy to make it a staying test. It was all the horse. I was in the back seat for most of the race.
“Masterclass training effort. I’m just pleased to get the job done. I’ve upset a few punters out there, I’m sure.”
The jockey never doubted the gelding’s determination over the concluding stages despite the sustained pressure from Sheza Alibi.
“He’s half mad,” Brown joked.
“I knew he would keep running. Whether he had the stamina to keep doing it after rolling at a pretty solid gallop, I wasn’t sure if he needed the run again but you can never doubt Ciaron Maher.
“He had him in great order, the race worked out perfectly and I’m glad they ran him.”
The upset result saw bookmakers react immediately, with Ladbrokes slashing Land Legend’s all-in Caulfield Cup 2026 odds from $101 into $34, making him one of the biggest market movers ahead of next weekend’s Group 1 feature. After rediscovering his best form in stunning fashion, the former Metropolitan winner has suddenly re-emerged as a genuine Cups contender and one of the headline stories coming out of Caulfield’s premier lead-up meeting.
Maher may however opt to give Land Legend a further week between runs and keep him at the shorter distance of the Group 1 $6 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington on October 24.
Might And Power Stakes 2026 Results
| 2. Land Legend (1) J: Ethan Brown 59kg 29×00 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 6. Sheza Alibi (6) J: Luke Nolen 56kg 11×21 T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 1. Birdman (2) J: Ben Melham 59kg 21×61 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Kingswood (5) J: John Allen 59kg 25×14 T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 5. Treasurethe Moment (3) J: Daniel Stackhouse 57kg 3×402 T: Matt Laurie | ||
| 3. Torranzino (4) J: Celine Gaudray 59kg 215×0 T: Paul Preusker |
