Peter Moody’s super stayer Incentivise proved once again why he is favourite for the Spring Cups showing true grit to hold them off and win second-up in the 2021 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington ahead of a next-up run in the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Incentivise has firmed in Caulfield Cup betting after winning the 2021 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Following a first-up win in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at the track over the mile, Incentivise and jockey Brett Prebble combined again to salute in a thrilling edition of the Group 1 $1 million Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

The event was touted as a two-horse event between Chris Waller’s defending champion Verry Elleegant and the next big thing in Australian racing Incentivise.

Verry Elleegant travelled well in fourth throughout, but just didn’t go with them on the home straight and finished out of the money (4^th) for the first time third-up during her career.

Incentivise meanwhile was good out the gates and settled along the fence the inside of the front-running Mount Poppa who lead the Turnbull field around.

Mount Poppa retained the lead approaching the turn for home with Incentivise his outside and the reigning Cox Plate champion Sir Dragonet wider out in third.

At the 400m Incentivise kicked up on the inside and went to the lead, but it was the Danny O’Brien-trained Tavistock four-year-old Young Werther presenting as the fast-finishing danger.

A dual Group 1 Derby placegetter having run third in last year’s VRC Derby before a second this autumn behind Explosive Jack in Sydney’s ATC Derby results, Young Werther ran out of his skin and made Incentivise work for it in the Turnbull.

In a brilliant effort however, Incentivise fought on and held off the superb Young Werther to salute with Chapada an eye-catching third to round out the Turnbull Stakes trifecta.

The writing is now on the wall for Incentivise ahead of the ‘Big 3’ Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival races with seven of the last nine Turnbull Stakes winners having run top three in either a Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup.

“We wanted to have a good gallop and we needed to take improvement out of today for the Caulfield Cup,” winning trainer Moody told Racing Victoria after the race.

“Brett wanted to be on the inside…ended up being a good test.

“He showed plenty of courage. He’s a bloody tough horse.

“Unbelievably tough. He’s been there to be beaten the length of the straight in both his runs this prep.

“This will really bring him on for the Caulfield Cup in two weeks.

“Really looking forward to a couple of weeks’ time.”

Verry Elleegant (2020) last year was the most recent winner of the Turnbull Stakes – Caulfield Cup double.

The Caulfield Cup is set to run on October 16 and the all-in markets at Ladbrokes.com.au on Incentivise are right into $2.60 and available in full here.

2021 Turnbull Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.