NICK Moraitis, the popular owner of all-time great Might And Power, has passed away. He was 87.
His son, Paul, told News Corp Moraitis has been suffering from liver cancer and succumbed to his illness on Monday.
“My father was diagnosed with liver cancer on May 13 – that is a day I will never forget,’’ Paul Moraitis said.
“It is very sad but at least he did not have to suffer in pain for too long.
Moriatis, a long-time director of the Sydney Turf Club before it merged with the Australian Jockey Club to become the Australian Turf Club, also raced many other outstanding racehorses including Exceed And Excel, Fiumicino, Vision And Power, Love Conquers All, Arabian Gold and Destiny’s Kiss.
But Moraitis will forever be remembered in Australian racing as the owner of Hall of Famer Might And Power, winner of the 1997 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and the 1998 Cox Plate.
Moraitis gained fame early in another arena as the owner of one of the country's biggest fruit and vegetable businesses, but he shared his desire for business with a great passion for horse racing.
Might And Power, who Moraitis purchased for $40,000 as a yearling despite being warned about a crooked leg, was Australasia's most famous galloper towards the end of last century.
He first shot to fame with his seven-and-a-half-length winning romp in course-record time as a four-year-old in the 1997 Caulfield Cup. Just 17 days later he would add a Melbourne Cup and then 50 weeks after that a Cox Plate.
Moraitis would go on and race several more good horses and in the early 2000s became a director of the Sydney Turf Club before it merged with the Australian Jockey Club to become the Australian Turf Club.
Might And Power was named by Moraitis after he attended his granddaughter's Holy Communion and heard the choir singing of the might and power of Jesus Christ.
He immediately thought that was a good name for a horse and he was right as the huge galloper was hugely popular as he ran his rivals into the ground for seven Group 1 wins before injury brought about his retirement.
