Incentivise is Australia’s brightest young stayer and he sits at the top of the TAB market for the Lexus Melbourne Cup following his first Group 1 win at Flemington in the PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m). Champion trainer Peter Moody has entered Incentivise for the TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at headquarters this Saturday.
English stayers Spanish Mission and Away He Goes remain in the race for the Lexus Melbourne Cup, and are set to arrive in Melbourne on Saturday 9 October.
Last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup champion Twilight Payment is expected to join Spanish Mission and Away He Goes on the flight after commitment from connections at the time of second declarations.
Nine-time Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant highlights the second declarations for trainer Chris Waller, whose team also includes new recruits Surefire and Sheraz as Waller looks to win Australia’s greatest race for the first time.
Realm of Flowers is already assured of her place in the Lexus Melbourne Cup after winning The Andrew Ramsden and is joined by her stablemate Le Don De Vie on the list of second declarations for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace still have a big team in the running for the Lexus Melbourne Cup headlined by three-time Derby winner Explosive Jack and last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup top ten placegetters Persan and Sir Dragonet.
This Saturday’s Group 3 The Lexus Bart Cummings (2510m) at Flemington is expected to have a strong influence on the field for 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup and is the second race this year to offer a golden ticket.
Victoria Racing Club (VRC) Executive General Manager Racing Leigh Jordon said Group 3 The Lexus Bart Cummings is an important part of the 2021 Cup picture.
“The Lexus Bart Cummings will be run at Flemington this Saturday with many leading Cup hopes trying to earn their way into the race that stops a nation,” Mr Jordon said.
“It’s a valuable race to win, not just because of the increased prize pool of $750,000 but also because it affords a guaranteed place in the Lexus Melbourne Cup without having to incur a weight penalty.”
Final opportunities to secure ballot-exemption await the winner of the Group 1 Caulfield Cup, the Group 1 Cox Plate and the Group 3 Lexus Hotham Stakes at Flemington on Penfolds Victoria Derby Day.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup will be run on Tuesday 2 November as part of the iconic Melbourne Cup Carnival which begins with Penfolds Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 30 October and also features Kennedy Oaks Day on Thursday 4 November and Mackinnon Stakes Day on Saturday 6 November.
All the action from the 2021 Melbourne Cup Carnival can be seen live and free on Network 10 and 10 Play on demand.
Third declarations for the Lexus Melbourne Cup must be submitted by noon on Tuesday 12 October.
The full list of second declarations for the Lexus Melbourne Cup can be found here.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup order of entry as of Tuesday 28 September can be found here.
Image: Incentivise is one of 80 horses still in the running for the 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup. Credit: Racing Photos.
