Peter Moody has 56 Group 1 winners to his name and prepared Black Caviar to 25 straight wins, but he had not previously won one of the four majors of the Australian turf.
That was until Saturday when he claimed the Caulfield Cup with Incentivise who ran his rivals into the ground to become the shortest-priced favourite to win since Tulloch in 1957.
Sent out the $2.30 favourite under Brett Prebble, Incentivise recorded a 3-½ length win from Nonconformist ($9) with Persan ($31) 1-¾ lengths away third.
After taking a sabbatical, Moody returned to training 18 months ago and moved his training base to Pakenham having previously trained at Caulfield.
“It’s unbelievable,” Moody said.
“Caulfield was my home for 16 or 17 years and I trained a couple of thousand winners here.
“Never this one. It’s very important to win it.”
Moody took over the training of Incentivise from former trainer and now managing part-owner Steve Tregea and is unbeaten with the stayer, collecting three Group 1 wins.
He got the call up when leviathan owners Brae Solkolski and Ozzie Kheir bought into the horse during a successful Brisbane winter campaign.
Solokolski and Kheir were among the ownership group of last year’s winner Verry Elleegant and last year’s Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet who was unfortunately euthanised after breaking down in a track gallop at The Valley earlier on Saturday.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity and thanks to Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir,” Moody said.
“They planted the seed, purchased the horse and recommended that he come to my yard.
“A big thanks to Steve Tregea, the former trainer, the owner and breeder of this horse and a big shout out to everyone in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.
“This one is for you.”
Incentivise had to overcome barrier 18 on Saturday.
He is not the first to win from the widest gate, Dunaden did so in 2010, but Incentivise did it tough.
“We weren’t going to rush him, and Brett took his time,” Moody said.
“He gives you a little heart flutter. He hits a flat spot coming down the side, but he just kept building.
“A super effort.”
The closest Prebble had previously come to winning was finishing second on Circles Of Gold in 1996.
Riding the favourite, Prebble was aware there was going to be 17 other jockeys that weren’t going to give him an easy time.
“I was mindful of the fact they weren’t going to give him a soft lead,” Prebble said.
“The way the race was run today, there was a fair bit of wind out there, and I thought I’m definitely going to get cover, even if it is on the side there for the first 1200 metres.
“He doesn’t over-race, he doesn’t waste his energy like some of the others do, Damien’s (Delphi) was a bit aggressive.
“I was surprised, he came off the bridle a bit sooner than I would have liked, but I showed him the whip before the home turn and all that is telling me, is look out Melbourne Cup.
“He is going to eat up the 3200 metres.
“He is exciting. He is probably one of the most exciting horses I’ve ridden.”
