Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate favourite and multiple-time Group 1 winner Incentivise has been ruled out of the Spring Carnival.
After a breakout 2021 that saw the horse go from Toowoomba maidens to the country's biggest race, Incentivise will sit out the remainder of the calendar year, with connections looking to give the gelding a longer rest.
Trainer Peter Moody told RSN on Monday morning that the five-year-old would miss the carnival and be unable to defend its Caulfield Cup crown.
"We all decided to err on the side of caution," he said.
"It got to the point where it was nearly a mental thing.
"For 12 months he's been poked, prodded and shockwaved every week or ten days."
Breaking...@moodyracingpgm has told @Mattunchained that Incentivise is OUT of the spring. The horse will now head to the paddock #RacingPulse pic.twitter.com/5jHxM3jUaD
— RSN927am (@RSN927) July 10, 2022
.@moodyracingpgm says we can look forward to seeing Incentivise in the autumn🤞 pic.twitter.com/RltiniFiYF
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 10, 2022
Managing owner Ozzie Kheir said the decision had nothing to do with an injury, but moreso the fact Incentivise was mentally tired due to a long rehab program.
“He has actually scanned 100 per cent again, his scans and X-rays are the same as what they were,” Kheir said via Punters.
“He has been in work for 16 weeks now but Peter is going to take a more cautious approach, he thinks the horse is mentally tired.
“His comments were he looks physically better than he ever has before, he is sound and the injury that was there is not bothering him at all.
“Peter said he feels like he is already a mentally tired horse."
With three Group 1s to its name already, the absence of Incentivise will leave a huge hole in the carnival, while the loss of Verry Elleegant to Aussie racing is another big blow.
Incentivise will return in Autumn and could feature in the big races in Sydney.