Gai Waterhouse stayer Just Fine to test Melbourne Cup hopes in Might And Power

Legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse could strengthen her Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup claims on Saturday in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield.

Cox Plate contender Alligator Blood is a $2.30 favourite with TAB for the 2000m feature from stablemate Just Fine, victorious in the Group 1 Metropolitan last start, at $3.90.

Melbourne Cup-nominated Just Fine has won three on the trot for Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to all but qualify for the race that stops a nation on November 7 at Flemington.

Jordan Childs, a go-to Melbourne jockey for the stable, will ride Just Fine on Saturday but Sydney-based hoop Rachel King is set to take over on the first Tuesday in November.

King, riding in Sydney on Saturday, has won two of the past three starts on Just Fine.

“We told her to not take a ride in the Cup, simple as that,” Waterhouse said.

“She hasn’t done a bad job, she won the Sydney Cup last year and she’s won the Metropolitan this year, she’s hard to beat, isn’t she?”

Childs would not be able to make the 53kg weight required to ride Just Fine in the Cup.

Just Fine is an equal $8 third favourite for the Melbourne Cup, alongside Soulcombe, behind only Vauban ($4.50) and defending champion Gold Trip ($6).

“He’s (Just Fine) a very nice gelding, very determined, a horse on the rise, every time you raise the bar he does it,” Waterhouse said.

“When he first came here I liked him very much … but as we’ve thrown the ball he’s caught it and run with it, he’s really surprised us the way he keeps improving.”

Just Fine raced 14 times in England for Sir Michael Stoute for three wins and three placings.

Waterhouse and Bott have eight Cup-nominated stayers, including five inside the first 19 in the order of entry – Goldman (=1 qualified), Major Beel (12), Knights Order (13), Hoo Ya Mal (17) and Just Fine (19).

Serpentine (36) and Military Mission (37) could sneak into the top 24 with attrition.

Originally published as Metropolitan winner Just Fine keeps surprising Gai Waterhouse ahead of Might And Power

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