Incentivise started his spring campaign in dominant fashion justifying the pre-race hype to lead virtually all the way in Saturday’s $1 million Makybe Diva Craiglee Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Having only broken his maiden in April, the former Queenslander was making made his debut for his new trainer Peter Moody and passed his first test at the highest level with flying colours.
Challenged strongly by Gr.1 winner Tofane early in the home straight, Incentivise found plenty inside the final 200m and at the finish had a neck to spare over Mo’Unga *Savabeel) with last year’s Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet (Camelot) close up third.
Bookmakers now have Incentivise as low as $4.60 favourite for the $5m Caulfield Cup on October 16.
Incentivise is the fourth Gr.1 winner for Cox Plate winner Shamus Award (Snitzel) who retired to Widden Stud and is now at Rosemont Stud in Victoria where he is advertised at $33,000.
Breeder, part-owner and former trainer Steve Tregea purchased Miss Argyle for $270,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions August Thoroughbred Sale as a broodmare prospect.
She has since produced eight winners, highlighted by four stakes winners including Incentivise, a three-quarter brother to Gr.3 Concorde Handicap and Gr.1 Waikato Sprint third Ardrossan (Redoutes Choicer).
Incentivise is also a half-brother to Brisbane Listed winner Bergerac (Drumbeats) and Tasmanian Listed winner Cheyenne Warrior (Not A Single Doubt), both pair sired by sons of Redoute’s Choice.
Their dam Miss Argyle (Iglesia) finished runner-up in the L.R. Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick at two and a sister to L.R. Doomben Slipper winner Diamondsondinside.
The third-dam Showsay (Head Over Heels)is a half-sister to Gr1 Queensland Oaks winner Mother Of Pearl (Rascolnik)
Miss Argyle died in 2020.