Melbourne Cup 2021: Favourite and runner-up Incentivise no match for Verry Elleegant

Incentivise tasted defeat for the first time in 10 starts but jockey Brett Prebble was proud of the favourite’s brave second and can’t wait for next year’s Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup favourite Incentivise (right) was outclassed by Verry Elleegant. Picture: David Caird

Incentivise could be classed as the unlucky runner of the Melbourne Cup.

It won’t help those that took the short odds about him but Incentivise was unlucky on two counts.

He bumped into a super mare perfectly prepared by Australia’s champion trainer Chris Waller.

He was also unlucky star jockey James McDonald executed a brilliant Melbourne Cup ride on the day Incentivise was supposed to join some of the nation’s greats as a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner.

Incentivise’s trainer Peter Moody and jockey Brett Prebble did everything right.

Moody had the potential star in outstanding order while Prebble gave his mount every chance.

The trio was simply no match for the irresistible triumvirate of McDonald, Waller and Verry Elleegant, who formed the perfect combination at the crucial time in the Melbourne Cup.

Incentivise gave every ounce of effort in his gangly body but could only watch as Verry Elleegant raced clear of him in the last 200m, showing why she was the reigning Australian Racehorse of the Year.

Like most of his rivals, Incentivise was hot and bothered when he returned to the mounting yard.

Moody immediately started the job of getting the horse’s core temperature back down before taking him back to the shade of the race day stalls.

Prebble lauded his mount’s guts despite Incentivise tasting defeat for the first time in 10 starts.

“He was awesome,” Prebble said.

“He’s a young horse and he was carrying a big weight.

“It came so quickly for him but he was brave.

“It took a champion to beat him.”

Verry Elleegant races clear of Incentivise at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images

Prebble said Incentivise would return a better horse in next year’s Melbourne Cup.

Incentivise will carry more weight in 2022 but Prebble was already looking 12 months ahead for another crack at the great race.

“Good luck to them trying to beat him next year,” Prebble said.

Grand Promenade endured the toughest run of the Melbourne Cup after racing wide without cover for the entire 3200m.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Grand Promenade did well to earn $160,000 for connections with his sixth placing, despite finishing more than 12 lengths from the winner.

“(Jockey) Kerrin (McEvoy) said he can’t race that wide and still win but he ran great,” Maher said.

“When you’re drawn out there that is going to happen a fair bit of the time.”

All runners finished the race but the mounting yard was as busy as Flinders Street Station at peak hour after the epic contest as trainers and strappers rushed to get buckets of water to the Melbourne Cup runners after competing in hot conditions.

Incentivise (left) settled second as the field passed the winning post for the first time.

Water was thrown over all runners to cool them down as quickly as possible after their exertions.

Early leader Persan was last to leave the mounting yard as track staff washed him down with a hose to alleviate a slight case of heat stress.

Tralee Rose’s trainer Symon Wilde reported the mare had been galloped on, leaving a cut that required attention, while last year’s winner Twilight Payment lost a shoe in the race.

Other than that, Racing Victoria and Victoria Racing Club officials breathed a huge sigh of relief as the 2021 Melbourne Cup will be remembered for the right reasons.

Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2021: Favourite and runner-up Incentivise no match for Verry Elleegant