Wrong leg, no problem: Incentivise overcomes issues to land Group 1 glory

Incentivise got on the wrong leg but started his spring campaign the right way, living up to all the pre-race hype in Saturday's $1 million Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

In what was a series of firsts, Incentivise made his debut for his new trainer Peter Moody and jockey Brett Prebble in his first test at the elite level in his first run in Victoria, but none of those factors seemed to matter as he fought off all challengers to record a most remarkable win.

Moody said he felt the horse won despite some problems.

"It was a very good effort as he didn't look comfortable at any stage," Moody said.

"I don't think he got on his right leg. It will be interesting to have a chat with Brett [Prebble], he certainly didn't change down in the straight.

"That's about as fast as he goes, but we know he can go like that for at least a mile and a half."

Makybe Diva Stakes result

Incentivise now dominates the market for the $5m Caulfield Cup on October 16. Sportsbet wound his price in to $4.60 from $7 after the victory, with Spanish Mission next in betting at $15.

Incentivise is also in to $8.50 favourite for the Melbourne Cup ahead of the same overseas raider at $11.

Moody said he figured the horse will race in next month's Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington before the Caulfield Cup two weeks later.

"There is nice improvement to come," he said. "It probably wasn't the way we intended to go about it, but I just left that totally up to Brett.

"As we've seen, the further he gets into a race, he builds nicely. Even though they got to him, you knew he was going to keep going.

"It was very encouraging at this stage of the spring, we've only got one more run between now and the [Caulfield] Cup, which will probably be the Turnbull [Stakes]. It's time to build on it and hopefully we can get him on his Melbourne leg at some stage.

"He's a very good horse. I'm yet to see him have a blow, so he's obviously got a great set of lungs on him, so upwards and onwards.

"When he gets to a mile and a quarter and he's allowed to build and roll and has a bunny instead of being the bunny, I think you are going to see a pretty exciting stayer."

Black Caviar trainer Moody says Australian trainers better than European rivals

After starting the $3.90 favourite, Incentivise held a neck advantage on the line over Mo'unga ($4.40), with a short head to Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet ($31) running a great fresh race for third.

For Moody, it was his first Group 1 win since his return to the training ranks, with his previous elite-level win coming when Flamberge claimed the William Reid Stakes in March 2016.

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