Jockey Brett Prebble has enjoyed a wonderful start to the new racing season and hopes it will continue at Flemington despite the presence of Verry Elleegant.
The decision has been made to bypass the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick to run Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on Saturday, the race Prebble teams up again in with Incentivise.
Prebble is looking to land another Group 1 victory on Incentivise after riding the Peter Moody -trained gelding to win the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 11.
The forecast wet weather may play into Verry Elleegant’s hands with the mare winning 11 of her 17 starts on wet ground, but Prebble is confident Incentivise will handle a soft track.
“I see there’s a fair amount of rain expected,” Prebble told the TAB Spring Carnival Launch.
“That won’t worry him. I trialled him myself on quite a wet track down at Cranbourne and he handled it without a worry.”
Prebble said the big thing in Incentivises favour is he will strip very fit on Saturday.
The jockey rode Incentivise for the first time since the Makybe Diva win at Caulfield on Monday.
“He wasn’t there for a testing sort of gallop,” Prebble said.
“Pete has aimed him to peak in the Caulfield Cup, but this horse has put his hand up and done things that other horses cannot do.
“His win first-up over the mile was probably not expected.
“He hadn’t shown that form at weight-for-age over a mile. He not only surprised, but he had to do it the hard way taking the lead up, fought them all off and they all had their chances.
“What I really loved about him was through the line. They could have gone another 400 metres and they still wouldn’t have caught him.
“He’s very exciting.”
TAB is expecting Saturday’s race to be a two-horse contest.
Verry Elleegant was the $2.50 favourite following Wednesday’s final field announcement with Incentivise the $2.80 second elect.
Sir Dragonet ($8) and Collette ($8.50) were the only other two under double figures.