Incentivise beats out Nonconformist, Persan and Montefilia top four
2 min read
Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Brett Prebble has sent an ominous message Incentivise’s rivals ahead of the Melbourne Cup after a commanding win in the $5 million race.
After being dealt what Prebble called an « awkward » barrier, Incentivise stormed home in the final 800 metres of the race, winning by four body lengths ahead of the second-placed Nonconformist. The top four was rounded off by Persan and Montefilia.
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Following the win, Prebble credited the horse for not expending too much energy in the early stages of the race, saying it was a good sign for the Melbourne Cup.
« There was a fair bit of wind out there, so I thought I’m definitely going to get cover and for the first 1200m I just wanted to enjoy this race and get into it because he doesn’t over-race and doesn’t waste his energy like some of the others do, » he told Seven.
« Got to the 1000 [metre mark] at the top of the hill and I thought, ‘Game on’, but I was a little bit surprised, he came off the right a little bit sooner than I would’ve liked.
« All that’s telling me is, look out Melbourne Cup. He’s going to eat the 3200. He’s exciting, he’s probably one of the most exciting horses I’ve ridden. »
The win marked a tremendous return for Incentivise’s trainer Peter Moody who had taken some time away from the sport, a break he’d promised never to return from.
« It’s unbelievable, » he told Seven after the win. « Caulfield was my home for probably 16-17 years and I’ve trained with a couple of thousand of winners here, but never this one. »
« We weren’t going to rush it. Brett took his time and he found a lovely spot there on the side.
« He said he wanted to be six or seven off and build into the race. He said, ‘I don’t care how the first 1200m goes, I just want to be allowed to build into it from the halfway mark’.
« He gives you a little heart-flutter, he hits that bit of a flat spot coming down the side, but he just kept building and it was a super effort. »
FINAL CAULFIELD CUP RESULTS: 1st – Incentivise, 2nd – Nonconformist, 3rd – Persan, 4th – Montefilia
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