Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise is set to miss the upcoming autumn and winter racing carnivals due to an injury he picked up in the 2021 Melbourne Cup, where he ran second behind Verry Elleegant.
The son of Shamus Award arrived back in Queensland, where he is set to spell over the warmer months before targeting the Brisbane Winter Carnival and Melbourne Spring Carnival once again, but after a recent check-up at the University of Queensland Vet Hospital at Gatton, it appears that the injury may be worse than first thought.
Former trainer and part-owner Steve Tregea told Racenet’s Trenton Akers that the five-year-old gelding had “damage to his fetlocks”.
“He has to be re-scanned in February to see where it is at then,” Tregea said.
“The report says it takes three to six months to heal and they will advise from there.
“There is a chance he doesn’t make the Winter Carnival as a result.”
THIS IS A SERIOUS HORSE!
INCENTIVISE DEMOLISHES THEM IN THE TATTERSALL’S CUP! pic.twitter.com/3btXitmy5K
— 7HorseRacing
(@7horseracing) June 26, 2021
Incentivise went on a nine-race winning streak which saw him win his maiden at the Sunshine Coast in April before going all the way to triple-Group 1 glory in the Turnbull Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes and the Caulfield Cup.
After his nine-length win at Eagle Farm, Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir purchased the majority share in the horse and relocated him to Peter Moody in Victoria for an assault on the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Although still trained by Moody, Incentivise is back at Tregea’s Darling Downs property for a well-earned spell.
Incentivise is currently the $8 favourite for both the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate next year, while he is the $13 favourite for the 2022 Melbourne Cup.