Incentivise finishes second in Melbourne Cup, Verry Elleegant confirms champion status
Sent out as a warm favourite, Toowoomba’s Incentivise hit the front in the home straight, but the fairytale we were all hoping for just wasn’t meant to be.
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RACING: The fairytale finish wasn’t to be.
Incentivise was gallant in his biggest test in the Melbourne Cup, but it took a piece of brilliance from Australia’s best jockey to deny him.
Verry Elleegant put to bed any doubts of her champion status with a dominant display in the great race after James McDonald was able to navigate a passage from barrier 18.
Toowoomba’s Incentivise was left posted early from a wide draw, with jockey Brett Prebble electing to sit outside the speed set by Persan.
The two worked hard to get across to the lead before being able to steady the tempo in front.
Persan wilted at the top of the straight and Incentivise hit the front, however it was only for a fleeting moment, as a bolting Verry Elleegant swept to the lead at the 300m mark and raced away for her 10th Group 1 win.
The Toowoomba galloper was beaten four lengths into second, with Spanish Mission a long neck away in third.
Incentivise was sent out as a $2.90 favourite, but lost no admirers in defeat after being forced to do it the hard way, particularly with fellow leader Person dropping out to finish 20th, beaten almost 30 lengths.
The second caps off an incredible spring for the former Steve Tregea-trained gelding, winning three Group 1 races (Makybe Diva Stakes, Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup) prior to today, with his career prizemoney earnings jumping to $5.7m.
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