Few Stories to Equal This - Incentivise makes it Nine Straight in Caulfield Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday October 16

There would be few stories to equal that of Incentivise, who in one preparation has risen from a Sunshine Coast maiden to claim three wins at the highest level, culminating in a jaw-dropping performance in Saturday’s $5,000,000 Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup (2400m).

In a class of his own (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

With Brett Prebble in the saddle, Incentivise was hung out to dry, four and five wide from the outside barrier as the field wheeled around the first turn.

When Damien Oliver pressed on to lead on the heavily backed Delphi (IRE), Incentivise slotted in.

Advertisement

But Prebble then pushed on some 600 metres out to make a three-wide line turning for home.

If there was a doubt on his ability to stay, it was sure to be found out after a torrid run.

However, the 5yo son of Shamus Award kept up a relentless gallop to defeat Grahame Begg’s admirable Rebel Raider gelding Nonconformist by three and a half lengths with the Perro gelding Persan a furth lengths and three-quarters back in third.

On a nine-race winning streak, the Peter Moody-trained gelding added the Caulfield Cup to the Group 1 VRC Makybe Diva Stakes and Group 1 VRC Turnbull Stakes. It advanced his record to nine wins from 12 starts with earnings of $4,493,300.

“It’s unbelievable. Caulfield was my home for sixteen or seventeen years and trained a couple of thousand winners here, but never this one,” Moody said.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity, thanks to Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kehir. They planted the seed, purchased the horse and recommended that he came to my yard.

Peter Moody and Brett Prebble (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

“A big thanks to Steve Tregea, the former trainer, owner and breeder of this horse. Big shout out to everyone in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs. This one is for you.

“We weren’t going to rush him. Brett took his time. He found a lovely spot, and he knew where he wanted to be down the side. He said that he wanted to be six or seven off and build into the race.

“He said ‘I don’t care how the first 1200 goes, I just want to be able to build into it at the hallways mark onwards.

“He gives you a little heart flutter. He hits a flat spot coming down the side, but he just kept building. A super effort.

“To Sara the girls, they’ve been my biggest supporters since we’ve been back.

“They’ve been unbelievably supportive. It means as much to them as me.

“Catherine Coleman, she rides him, does all the work, she’s my 2IC and will be a training partner one day along with Jeff O’Connor my Racing Manager."

Prebble said he has no doubt Incentivise will be even better over 3200m.

“It was pretty exciting from an awkward draw. There are 17 other jockeys and they’ve all got their own opinion on how the race is going to be run,” Prebble said.

“I was mindful of the fact they weren’t going to give him a soft lead. The way the race was run today, it was a little bit windy, I thought “I’m definitely going to get cover, even if it is on the side there for the first 1200m’.

“He doesn’t overrace, he doesn’t waste his energy like some of the others do. Damien’s (Delphi) was a bit aggressive.”

“I was surprised, he came off the bridle a bit sooner than I would have liked. I showed him the whip before the home turn. All that is telling me is look out Melbourne Cup. He is going to eat up the 3200m.”

“He is probably one of the most exciting horses I’ve ridden.”

Caulfield Cup winner (image Reg Ryan/Racing photos)

Incentivise is the best of four stakes-winners for the stakes-placed Iglesia mare Miss Argyle.

He is a half-brother to the Group III ARC Concorde Handicap winner and Waikato Stud-based stallion Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice), and Listed winners  Cheyenne Warrior (Not A Single Doubt) and Bergerac (Drumbeats).

A sister to dual Listed winner Diamondsondinside, Miss Argyle (Iglesia), died in September last year. Her final live foal is an unraced 3yo Golden Archer gelding named Argyle Lane.

Incentivise is one of four Group 1 winners for Shamus Award who stands at Rosemont Stud for a fee of $33,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - Caulfield Cup Gr1 2400m

Caulfield Track: Soft(6) Time: 2:30.88
1
Incentivise
- 5g Shamus Award (AUS) x Miss Argyle (AUS) (Iglesia (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: B Prebble 55.5
2
3.5
Nonconformist
- 5g Rebel Raider (AUS) x Good Thinking (AUS) (Hold That Tiger (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Craig Williams 51.5
3
5.3
Persan
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Ofcourseican (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ms L J Meech 53
Pierro
4
5.4
Montefilia
- 4m Kermadec (NZ) x Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco (GER))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Jye McNeil 52
5
5.5
Great House
- 5g Galileo (IRE) x Anja (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Teodore Nugent 50
6
5.7
Chapada
- 6g Bullet Train (GB) x Diamantina Dior (AUS) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: D W Stackhouse 52.5
7
6.7
She's Ideel
- 6m Dundeel (NZ) x Ana's Mail (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: C Newitt 52
8
6.9
Young Werther
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Romantic Time (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Moor 52
9
8.9
Ocean Billy
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Cool Storm (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damien Thornton 53.5
10
9.1
Port Guillaume
- 5g Le Havre (IRE) x Keira (FR) (Turtle Bowl (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: H Coffey 52
11
9.9
Homesman
- 8g War Front (USA) x My Annette (USA) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jordan Childs 55.5
12
10.6
Master Of Wine
- 7g Maxios (GB) x Magma (GER) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Dean Holland 52.5
13
11.0
Delphi
- 5h Galileo (IRE) x Bye Bye Birdie (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: D Oliver 53
14
11.3
The Chosen One
- 6h Savabeel (AUS) x The Glitzy One (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: Damian Lane 54
15
11.7
Selino
- 6g Champs Elysees (GB) x Air Kiss (GB) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Fred W Kersley 53.5
16
14.5
Duais
- 4m Shamus Award (AUS) x Meerlust (AUS) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: M J Dee 51
17
14.6
Explosive Jack
- 4h Jakkalberry (IRE) x Extra Explosive (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 54
18
17.8
Charms Star
- 4m Per Incanto (USA) x Anniesstar (NZ) (Zed (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: D Yendall 50
More Reading...
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Five on the Bounce for Shamus Award's Incentivise
Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir would have breathed a little easier when the odd-on favourite Incentivise put a space on thirteen overmatched rivals in Saturday’s QTIS Provincial Stayers Final (2500m) at Ipswich.
Just How Good Is He? - a 12-length Romp for Incentivise in Tattersalls Cup
In his biggest test to date, Incentivise put a class field of stayers to the sword in Saturday’s $200,000 Group III Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
From Toowoomba Maiden Also Ran to the Pinnacle at Flemington - the Remarkable Rise of Incentivise
Less than six months ago, Incentivise finished some 16-lengths from the winner when beating two home in a Towoomba maiden.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.