Jockey stunned by Incentivise’s Caulfield Cup run

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.

READ MORE: Nature Strip takes out $15 million Everest in stunning finish

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

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!

The world’s richest athletes