If you've been following the Melbourne Spring Carnival, the horse everybody is talking about is Incentivise.
Seemingly from out of nowhere in recent months, the five-year-old has burst onto the scene and has now taken out three Group 1 races, including the recent Caulfield Cup.
Incentivise will now start as a short-priced favourite in the Melbourne Cup, the biggest race on the Australian calendar, and is every chance of taking it out.
But where did Incentivise come from? If you're wondering why you hadn't heard of this horse this time last year, there's a great reason why.
Peter Moody's prized horse didn't actually win his first race until April this year, and actually lost three low-grade maiden events in Queensland prior to its breakthrough win.
Since that win on the Sunshine Coast back in April, Incentivise has been unstoppable and its win in the Caulfield Cup was further proof of how dominant he has become.
Let's take a look back at how this phenomenal horse went from being towelled up in Toowoomba maidens to now being odds-on for 'the race that stops the nation'.
IPSWICH - MAIDEN, AUGUST 2020
FINISH: 9th of 12 (3.6 lengths)
Long before this talented gelding was the favourite for the Melbourne Cup, he was having his first-ever start at Ipswich well over a year ago and was trained by Steve Tregea and was actually donning red and white colours.
Incentivise was near the top of the market with Michael Murphy on board over the 1350-metre trip in Queensland, and should have been a decent shot of winning from barrier four.
The race however was won by Mishani Destroyer - and for anyone that follows Queensland racing, there are a million Mishani horses floating around - which paid close to $20 depending on your bookmaker, while the $4.80 shot Incentivise ran 3.6 lengths behind in 9th spot.
Finishing behind him on this Wednesday afternoon were just three horses, which isn't a good sign but at the end of the day, it was only a debut
EAGLE FARM - MAIDEN, MARCH 2021
FINISH: 6th of 12 (5.25 lengths)
After a disappointing 9th on debut, Incentivise wasn't sighted again for almost seven months, before returning for a Wednesday meeting at Eagle Farm over 1400m.
This time around, Anthony Allen was in the saddle but it made minimal difference, with Incentivise finishing 5.25 lengths behind the leader Our Rebel in sixth place.
So far, there wasn't a hell of a lot to like about Incentivise - but the worst was yet to come.
TOOWOOMBA - MAIDEN, MARCH 2021
FINISH: 8th of 10 (16 lengths)
Two-and-a-half weeks later, Incentivise was taken to a Saturday night meeting at Toowoomba - also known as the "follow the late-money" punting capital of the world.
Incentivise was poor in its first two starts, and was taken up in trip here to an 1850m maiden race and rising star Kyle Wilson-Taylor was booked to ride him.
Unfortunately, he went backwards on his first two starts and finished in 8th spot and a whopping 16 lengths off the winner Golden Goal.
Not only was Incentivise that ridiculously far off the winner, but he also finished 7.5 lengths behind the next horse Tina Sparkle, who was 8.5 lengths off the winner in her own right.
Bare in mind, this was just over SEVEN MONTHS AGO - and now he is the Melbourne Cup odds-on favourite.
SUNSHINE COAST - MAIDEN, APRIL 2021
FINISH: 1st by 3.3 lengths
After three failures and each start worse than the previous, the career of Incentivise was off to an extremely rocky start.
Tregea took his gelding to the Sunshine Coast two Saturdays later in a 1600m race, with Anthony Allen back in the saddle and looking to give him his first career victory.
Seemingly out of nowhere based on its form and its placing in the market, Incentivise bolted in to win by over 3 lengths to short-priced favourite Rations.
This was the start of a mighty winning streak, which is still yet to end.
SUNSHINE COAST - CL2 HANDICAP, APRIL 2021
FINISH: 1st by 0.8 lengths
After getting off the mark a couple of weeks prior, Incentivise returned to the Sunny Coast and this time was tasked with an 1800m race.
He would go head-to-head-with Isabella's Spring on a Friday twilight meeting, with the same jockey on board as his first-ever victory.
Incentivise started near the top of the market alongside Isabella's Spring, who has a knack for being near the finish (2 wins and 8 placings from 16 starts), but claimed a narrow victory by less than a length.
It wasn't until Incentivise's next start that we saw the champion beging to emerge.
TOOWOOMBA - BM70 HANDICAP, MAY 2021
FINISH: 1st by 7.3 lengths
After two solid wins at the Sunny Coast, he would again go up against Isabella's Spring a couple of weeks later at Toowoomba in a night meeting.
Incentivise was up in trip again, this time moving out to 2150m, with gun apprentice jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor, who has found a career strike-rate of 33.3% at the track.
After winning by just 0.8 lengths in his previous start, Incentivise wasn't messing around this time and won by a whopping 7.3 lengths and sent favourite-backers home happy, saluting at even money.
This kind of performance that punters saw at Toowoomba would be replicated in the months to come up in Queensland.
EAGLE FARM - BM80 HANDICAP, JUNE 2021
FINISH: 1st by 9 lengths
Up in grade to a Benchmark 80 race but back in distance to 1800m, Incentivise again proved too strong for his rivals in his return to Eagle Farm.
With a familiar jockey on board in Anthony Allen, this race was in the midst of Brisbane's peak period and what a showing this was for the star gelding.
Incentivise would run clear by 9 lengths to Happy Go Plucky and Masaff, who were clearly no match for his speed and class.
IPSWICH - BM78 HANDICAP, JUNE 2021
FINISH: 1st by 9.5 lengths
Back to Ipswich for the first time running 9th on debut, it was a completely different story this time for Incentivise as he absolutely blitzed the Benchmark 78 field.
Again showing his versatility, Incentivise would head up to 2500m and showed the type of performance that helped turn him into a Melbourne Cup favourite.
He won 9.5 lengths to Accessory with Allen again on board for the ride, as the story of this rising star beginning to head south to Sydney and Melbourne.
This win remains level with shortest price Incentivise has started in his career, getting as low as $1.30 with some bookies.
EAGLE FARM - G3 TATTERSALL'S CUP, JUNE 2021
FINISH: 1st by 12 lengths
In his final race in Queensland before moving down to chase big-time spring glory with a new trainer, Incentivise finished his time with Steve Tregea in dominant fashion.
Again going around at $1.30 odds for most bookies despite moving up to Group 3 level, Incentivise put in his best performance yet to win by 12 lengths to Mirage Dancer.
Still only June at this stage, experts and fans were beginning to look ahead to the first Tuesday of November for this rising star.
Check out the G3 Tattersal's Cup win below.
FLEMINGTON - G1 MAKYBE DIVA STAKES, SEPTEMBER 2021
FINISH: 1st by 0.3 lengths
After finishing up with Tregea and moving down to Victoria, connections linked up with Peter Moody, who has taken over the horse for his three lead-up races to the Melbourne Cup.
With just one solid trial in between and a step up to Group 1 level for the first time, Incentivise was at a much more backable price of $4 for the Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m with gun jockey Brett Prebble in the saddle for the first time.
And after demolishing the competition in Queensland, this was a little tougher but Incentivise still managed to gain a maiden Group 1 win over a shorter distance, proving that he really can do it all.
Incentivise would lead the whole way but looked in trouble down the straight as it was tackled by Tofane. It managed to hold it off and also keep its head in front of the fast-finishing Mo'unga and Sir Dragonet.
Watch the Makybe Diva Stakes below.
FLEMINGTON - G1 TURNBULL STAKES, OCTOBER 2021
FINISH: 1st by 0.5 lengths
Returning to Group 1 action three weeks later, Incentivise would face its toughest task yet in the Turnbull Stakes over 2000m and actually didn't start favourite.
In a field that included nine-time G1 winner Verry Elleegant as well as reigning Cox Plate champion Sir Dragonet, this was never going to be easy for Incentivise to keep the winning streak alive.
Chris Waller's superstar mare started the race odds-on with Incentivise just behind in the market, but it was the latter who would take out the win in strong fashion.
Incentivise went towards the front once again in this race, gathering a nice spot on the fence and kicking clear of its rivals in the final two furlongs, before holding out roughie Young Werther as it flew home for 2nd.
This was another great win for Incentivise and many were now talking about him as the winner for the two big races on the horizon.
Watch the replay of the Turnbull Stakes below.
CAULFIELD - G1 CAULFIELD CUP, OCTOBER 2021
FINISH: 1st by 3.5 lengths
When fans look back on this winning streak that Incentivise was on and perhaps even his career in years to come, this is the moment that fans will remember as the star-making win.
Starting as short-priced favourite despite a wide draw in the G1 Caulfield Cup - one of the most famous races on the calendar that is filled with history - Incentivise produced a truly stunning victory.
Travelling five deep around the first turn, Prebble steered Incentivise towards the lead but couldn't quite capture it early on due to the wide gate.
At the 800m mark he still sat three-wide and poorer horses would have been in dire straits - but this horse is a champion and it did exactly what a champion would do.
Incentivise shot to the lead from Persan after they went around the final corner at Caulfield and absolutely bolted in to win by 3.5 lengths from Noncomformist.
This was one of the more remarkable wins in a big race you will see for a long time, and even if you didn't invest any coin in, there was nothing to do but applaud and smile.
Watch the replay of the Caulfield Cup below.
FLEMINGTON - G1 MELBOURNE CUP, NOVEMBER 2021
When the clock hits 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, all of this goes out the window for a few minutes and it will be up to Brett Prebble and the horse itself to get the job done.
It's amazing to think that Incentivise lost a maiden at Toowoomba by 12 lengths just seven months ago, and is now the red-hot favourite for a Melbourne Cup.
Former trainer Steve Tregea opened up on the importance of the horse to himself and the region in an interview with TAB.
“Every trainer, owner and area needs a good horse to put them on the map," he said.
"We’ve had great horses come out of the area – Bernborough has a statue, so Toowoomba has had great horses. It would be a bit unbelievable if Incentivise could be thought of in the same breath as a horse like Bernborough.
"People that I didn’t really know and wouldn’t have known my first name before, now pull you up and say what a great thing for the region it is.
"It’s as good a horse country as anywhere in Australia, and it should be onwards and upwards from here."
Former jockey Anthony Allen spoke about Incentivise as a 'dream horse' and emphasised the importance of his rise for the Toowoomba region.
“Incentivise is a jockey’s dream – you look for a horse and he is the horse you want to find," he said.
"Going from a maiden to Caulfield Cup to Melbourne Cup in just over six months is awesome, and it just puts Queensland on the map and for a little town like that, it’s exciting.
"I remember going home to the missus and saying this is the horse that’s gonna take me to a Group 1. She was like ‘you need to settle down’ but I don’t think you understand, this is it."
This is the kind of story that makes horse racing so great, and there will be plenty of happy people in Toowoomba, Queensland and across the nation if Incentivise can claim a Melbourne Cup victory.
