Melbourne Cup 2021: Incentivise draws barrier 16 but still all the rage with punters

Incentivise is the hottest Melbourne Cup favourite since the legendary Phar Lap and a wide barrier hasn’t dented the confidence of punters.

Incentivise is the shortest Melbourne Cup favourite since Phar Lap. Picture: Getty Images

Incentivise is the immovable force in Melbourne Cup markets despite drawing another wide gate.

The Peter Moody-trained Caulfield Cup winner will jump from barrier 16 at Flemington, two alleys outside of second elect Spanish Mission.

Incentivise defied the outside barrier 18 to demolish Australia’s best in the Caulfield Cup by 3½ lengths last start.

He takes on the world — Spanish Mission and Twilight Payment — on Tuesday with an extra 1.5kg (up to 57kg) on his Caulfield Cup romp.

Champion jockey Brett Prebble was at peace with the cards dealt.

“We prefer there (16) than (barrier) one, for sure,” Prebble said.

“Dealt the cards we got, so we got to deal with it.”

Incentivise remained $2.30 favourite with TAB after the draw.

Only Phar Lap, victorious in 1930 at $1.73 and third as $2 favourite in 1929, has started shorter in the Melbourne Cup.

Incentivise, riding a nine-race winning streak, will rewrite Australian racing history if successful in the Cup with 57kg on his back.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FINAL FIELD AND BARRIERS

Only two horses in the past 44 years have lumped 57kg or more to win – Gold And Black (1977) and Makybe Diva (58kg, 2005).

Barrier 16 — Piping Lane (1972) and Hi Jinx (1960) — has also only produced two winners.

Incentivise has an opportunity to become the 12th horse and first since Ethereal in 2001 to complete the Cups double.

Might And Power in 1997 was the last gelding to achieve the rare feat.

“It’d be pretty special (to win),” Prebble said, chasing a second Cup since his 2012 Green Moon win.

“I’m not a history buff at all, in any sense, but it would be pretty special for myself, Pete, we got a few reasons why, for our personal selves and family, so it’s a long way to go to say yet.

“It would be nice but there’s 23 other jockeys (wanting the same thing).”

Grand Promenade has drawn the widest of Derby-winning trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s four runners. Picture: Getty Images

Incentivise will be wrapped in cotton wool now until a final veterinary inspection on Cup eve.

“The trainer will be holding his breath for every day that goes past,” Prebble said.

“That’s what it’s like this race, it takes a lot of effort and a lot of luck to get there healthy a sound.”

Speaking to News Corp Australia before the barrier draw, Moody was relaxed about the preparation to date.

Incentivise completed only a light workout at Pakenham on Saturday morning.

Moody said the gentle pacework and last 400m striding out was ideal.

“That’s all he needed, we don’t have to do much with him now,” Moody said.

Lloyd Williams‘ quest to improve on his record seven Cups will face early pressure with lightweight Pondus and reigning champion Twilight Payment drawn barriers one and two respectively.

The potential leaders will need to jump cleanly to avoid being crunched in the race to the first corner.

Twilight Payment is a $12 chance with TAB and Pondus $34.

After winning the Group 1 Victoria Derby in scintillating fashion with Hitotsu, the powerhouse Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable’s Cup quartet endured mixed barriers success.

Persan ran fifth in last year’s Cup. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Fancied Grand Promenade has 21 to contend with but Persan (11), Floating Artist (10) and Explosive Jack (4) fared far better.

Persan, who ran fifth in the Cup last year, finished third in the Caulfield Cup last start behind Incentivise.

Jockey Luke Currie will look to replicate what Linda Meech did in the Caulfield Cup and “roll forward”.

“Eleven doesn't seem too bad, we’ll have to see where the speed is inside us but Incentivise has drawn out and will be pushing forward so we might be able to get on the back of it,” Currie said.

“The two miles will suit (Persan) … a couple of those horses look quite hard to beat, namely Incentivise, but he’ll be around the mark. He’s a top-five chance.”

MELBOURNE CUP (3200M)

Tuesday, November 2, 3pm

1 – TWILIGHT PAYMENT (2) 58kg

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: Jye McNeil

2 – INCENTIVISE (16) 57kg

Trainer: Peter Moody

Jockey: Brett Prebble

3 – SPANISH MISSION (14) 57kg

Trainer: Andrew Balding

Jockey: Craig Williams

4 – VERRY ELLEEGANT (19) 57kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: James McDonald

5 – EXPLOSIVE JACK (4) 54kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Jockey: John Allen

6 – THE CHOSEN ONE (5) 54kg

Trainer: Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman

Jockey: Damian Lane

7 – DELPHI (3) 53.5kg

Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman

Jockey: Damien Oliver

8 – OCEAN BILLY (13) 53.5kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Damien Thornton

9 – SELINO (24) 53.5kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Ron Stewart

10 – JOHNNY GET ANGRY (22) 53kg

Trainer: Denis Pagan

Jockey: Lachlan King

11 – KNIGHTS ORDER (9) 53kg

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse

12 – PERSAN (11) 53kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Jockey: Luke Currie

13 – CARIF (8) 52.5kg

Trainer: Peter & Paul Snowden

Jockey: Blaike McDougall

14 – MASTER OF WINE (6) 52.5kg

Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes

Jockey: Fred Kersley

15 – PONDUS (1) 52.5kg

Trainer: Robert Hickmott

Jockey: Rachel King

16 – GRAND PROMENADE (21) 52kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy

17 – MIAMI BOUND (17) 52kg

Trainer: Danny O’Brien

Jockey: Patrick Moloney

18 – PORT GUILLAUME (23) 52kg

Trainer: Ben & JD Hayes

Jockey: Harry Coffey

19 – SHE’S IDEEL (20) 52kg

Trainer: Bjorn Baker

Jockey: Craig Newitt

20 – FUTURE SCORE (15) 51.5kg

Trainer: Matt Cumani

Jockey: Dean Yendall

21 – TRALEE ROSE (12) 51kg

Trainer: Symon Wilde

Jockey: Dean Holland

22 – FLOATING ARTIST (10) 50kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Jockey: Teo Nugent

23 – GREAT HOUSE (7) 50kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Michael Dee

24 – SIR LUCAN (18) 50kg

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Jockey: Glen Boss

Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2021: Incentivise draws barrier 16 but still all the rage with punters