Incentivise Obliterates Rivals in Caulfield Cup

The rapid rise of Incentivise hit new heights Oct. 16, as the Peter Moody-trained gelding proved he was the very best middle distance stayer in Australia with a breathtaking display in the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup (G1).

After breaking well from the widest barrier, Brett Prebble pushed forward on the son of Shamus Award, eventually settling him three wide in third position.

As the field hit the 800-meter mark, Prebble asked the gelding for his effort and he responded in impressive fashion, putting light between himself and his rivals in a matter of strides, beating Nonconformist  by 3 1/2 lengths. Persan was a further length and three-quarters away in third.

Starting his career with trainer and breeder Steve Tregea, Incentivise was beaten in his first three career starts but has not tasted defeat since breaking his maiden at the Sunshine Coast on April 11.

After taking out six victories last season, which culminated with a win in the Tattersall's Cup (G3), the gelding was moved to Moody's Pakenham base for the new season. However, his success in the north last season did not go unnoticed by some major players within the industry, including Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir buying into the horse with Tregea also maintaining a stake in the 5-year-old.

Their faith in the gelding's talents has been well-rewarded this season. Incentivise resumed this preparation with a win in the PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) after which he added a victory in the TAB Turnbull Stakes (G1). His record now makes for impressive reading; nine wins from 12 starts, and prize money earnings totaling AU$4,643,300.

The gelding's win is made even more impressive given he had to overcome a wide barrier draw and Moody said Prebble gave the horse a beautiful ride, sticking to the well mapped out plan.

"We weren't going to rush him, and Brett took his time," Moody said. "He gives you a little heart flutter. He hits a flat spot coming down the side, but he just kept building.

"A super effort."

The victory also provided Moody with his 56th group 1 win, but until Saturday success in the Caulfield Cup had been one that had eluded him.

"It's unbelievable," Moody said. "Caulfield was my home for 16 or 17 years and I trained a couple of thousand winners here.

"Never this one. It's very important to win it."

Since returning to the training ranks 18 months ago following a spell on the sidelines, Moody has made an almost instant impact, but Saturday he was quick to heap praise on the people who have supported this newest chapter of his glittering career.

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity and thanks to Brae Sokolsk and Ozzie Kheir," the winning trainer continued. "They planted the seed, purchased the horse, and recommended that he come to my yard.

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

Prebble—who was also enjoying his first triumph in the race—is confident the horse will thrive in the Nov. 2 Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1).

"I was mindful of the fact they weren't going to give him a soft lead," Prebble said.

"The way the race was run today, there was a fair bit of wind out there, and I thought I'm definitely going to get cover, even if it is on the side there for the first 1,200 meters.

"He doesn't over-race, he doesn't waste his energy like some of the others do, Damien's (Oliver, on Delphi ) was a bit aggressive.

"I was surprised, he came off the bridle a bit sooner than I would have liked, but I showed him the whip before the home turn and all that is telling me, is 'Look out Melbourne Cup.'

"He is going to eat up the 3,200 meters. He is exciting. He is probably one of the most exciting horses I've ridden."

The victory will have come as a welcome bit of good news for Sokolski and Kheir, who began their day coming to terms with the loss of their star performer Sir Dragonet  after he broke a leg in a routine gallop at Moonee Valley as he prepared to defend his crown in next weekend's Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1).

BloodHorse: Cox Plate Winner Sir Dragonet Euthanized After Injury

"They say that about racing, to enjoy the highs while they are there because the lows will come around as they did this morning," Kheir told Racing.com.

"I woke to the news in the morning and I was a mess. My heart was melted and I literally couldn't think of watching a race.

"I went for a walk for about three hours to clear my head and I just couldn't stop thinking about it. We love that horse and I am going to really miss him.

"To be honest, I couldn't think of anything that could cheer me up. Nothing."

But after watching Incentivise demolish his rivals by the biggest margin since Might And Power's win in 1997 edition of the group 1, Kheir took his own advice and enjoyed the victory delivered by this emerging star of Australian racing.

"We've got a very, very special horse on our hands," Kheir said. "We will savor this moment and enjoy it. I do think this horse will become a cult hero and be something really special and be a horse that people will look back at and love watching his replays.

"I'm back. It's taken all day but I'm back. It was just such an amazing win and he's an amazing horse. I'll never forget that run today, as I'll never forget Sir Dragonet."

Bred by Tregea's Windermere Stud, Incentivise is the eighth of nine foals out of the deceased mare Miss Argyle (Iglesia ) and half brother to group 3 winner and Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan and Queensland stakes winners Bergerac and Cheyenne Warrior.

Further back the gelding shares a page with group 2 scorers Express Air  and Prince Of Boom as well as stakes-winning duo Diamondsondinside and Heaven's Deal.

The gelding is one of four group 1 winners for Rosemont Stud-based sire Shamus Award, while his total stakes winners stands at 16. The stallion is standing for an increased fee of AU$33,000 (including GST), having stood last season for AU$19,800 (including GST).

Art Cadeau a Star of a Country

This year's Kosciuszko went the way of the Terry Robinson-trained Art Cadeau (Artie Schiller ) who pounced late in a thrilling renewal to overhaul last year's champion Handle The Truth in winning by a head.

The Rodney Northam-trained Spiranac finished third, another three-quarters of a length in arrears.

Art Cadeau, who won the AU$500,000 Country Championships Final in April, takes the lion's share of the AU$1.3 million prize, with his own career earnings rocketing to over AU$1.3 million.

"I didn't think he was ever going to get there," Robinson said. "I knew he'd be strong and I always knew he'd just find. He just keeps giving. He's never beat that horse."

The landmark win coincides with the running of the memorial race for Terry's father, Kevin, at Menangle Park Saturday evening.

A homebred for Mick Lill, Art Cadeau is the sixth foal out of listed-winning Hurricane Sky  mare Jewelled Gate .