Five talking points: Incentivise to complete the cups double?

It was an action packed weekend of racing with the running of four Group 1’s. Here are our top five talking points from Saturday.

1. Can Incentivise complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double? 

After raising the bar to another level in the Turnbull Stakes, the Peter Moody trained Incentivise shortened into a $2.20 favourite for the Caulfield Cup and a $5.50 chance in the Melbourne Cup. It begs the question can he be the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to complete the double. In the lead up to the Turnbull Stakes last week it was touted as a match race between Verry Elleegant and Incentivise and there were still question marks on whether Incentivise could take it up to the nine time Group 1 champion. He did just that and more, ticking yet another box and proving himself as arguably the best horse in Australia right now. The Caulfield Cup awaits. 

2. Bayliss puts his name in lights with Group 1 double

It’s been a tough few years for Regan Bayliss who was struggling to find form in a competitive Melbourne jockeys room. Bayliss set off to Hong Kong for a short stint before coming back to Australia to find himself in Sydney. It’s taken some time to break through at the top level in Sydney but was Saturday’s Group 1 double the start of something special? Bayliss faced the tough decision on whether to stick with the Waterhouse and Bott filly Never Been Kissed or jump ship to the favourite Startantes. However, it all worked out perfectly with Bayliss sticking with Gai and Adrian to bring up his first Group 1 since 2018. Attention quickly turned to his ride on Private Eye which was another cool ride, timed to perfection finishing over the top of Aramayo and Dalasan. With some big races coming up in the next month, Bayliss couldn’t have put his name in lights at a better time. 

Current mood @Reganbayliss 😂

(Via Instagram/blakepaine) pic.twitter.com/zeuTxGa2Zc

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 2, 2021

3. Grand Promenade books his spot in the first Tuesday of November

The ‘Persan recipe’ has worked wonders again for the Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace team with Grand Promenade booking his spot in this year’s Melbourne Cup. He took out the Bart Cummings after a winter preparation similar to his stablemate Persan who went on to finish 5th in last year’s Melbourne Cup. It has just been announced by Greg Carpernter that Grand Promenade has received a 1kg penalty for the win on Saturday leaving him with 52kg in the Melbourne Cup. Off the back of the win he has come into a $15 chance and is one of the best local chances to take home the cup come the first Tuesday of November.

4. Bowman brings up the ton 

Stuck on 99 for a few months, Bowman finally broke through the 100, lifting Montefillia over the line in The Metropolitan. It was a strong Bowman ride barging through a gap on the turn to make sure the David Payne trained galloper had every chance of winning. She now heads to a Caulfield Cup with Jye McNeil booked to ride. However, the focus was purely on Bowman after the win, joining the likes of George Moore, Damien Oliver and Jimmy Cassidy in the 100 club. Bowman rode his first Group 1 winner back in 1996, partnered Winx for 25 of his Group 1’s and now reaches the ton in what is a remarkable achievement at the age of 41 with still many years left in the saddle for the ‘She’s Apple’s’ icon.

5. Coolangatta makes electrifying debut 

The Gimcrack and Breeders Plate are always fascinating races with Coolangatta the one to take out of the Gimcrack this year. The two-year-old Written Tycoon filly was impressive at the trials but stamped herself as the early Golden Slipper favourite when she made a mess of her rivals over the weekend. Where she goes now is unknown at this stage with the Gimcrack a target race but she looks an exciting horse for the future. 

Looking ahead to next weekend… 

Caulfield Guineas Day in Melbourne presents the three Group 1’s which include the Guineas, Toorak and Might and Power. Whilst at Randwick it’s the Group 1 Spring Champion with the Silver Eagle as a nice entree to the Golden Eagle later this month.

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