Incentivise extended his winning streak to eight and won his second-consecutive Group 1 race at Flemington as he fended off all challenges in Saturday's $1 million TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

The Peter Moody-trained gelding ($2.70) raced up on the pace and after being pressured briefly through the first half of the race, was the strongest at the finish, defeating Cups contenders Young Werther ($26) and Chapada ($101), with the margins half a length by a length-and-a-quarter.

Defending Turnbull and Caulfield Cup champion Verry Ellleegant ($2.10 favourite) stalked the pace, settling fourth, but after looming on straightening could only hold her ground, while Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet ($8) raced three wide minus cover outside the pace throughout and faded into sixth.

"We wanted to have a good gallop, we needed to take improvement from today out of the Caulfield Cup and Mount Popa made sure we had a good gallop," Moody said.

"Brett (Prebble, jockey) thought that he wanted to be on the inside, he thought that was the best part of the track so he made endeavours to hold it, so it ended up being a good test.

"He showed plenty of courage, he's a bloody tough horse isn't he?"

Incentivise remains at the top of betting for the $5m Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 16, shortening into $2.30 favourite with Sportsbet.

Successful jockey Brett Prebble now has three G1 wins this spring and he could not praise his galloper enough after the performance.

"It's a big effort from him today," he said. "I'm proud of him.

"They didn't leave him alone, he didn't get much peace, but I'm fortunate he's a very kind horse and he doesn't take the bridle. He conserves his energy.

"But he was going half a second quicker than I would have to for the first thousand but then I let him work up through his gears from the half-mile.

"He gave me a good feel and I thought he was going to win and then he hit a flat patch about the 400 metres and I would have liked another gear there, but there wasn't.

"He couldn't go much faster, but he could see that other horse coming at him. I really loved him last 100, he was strong through the line and was really in his groove today.

"It was a real stayer's feel. He can take it and cop whatever is served at him and ran them into the ground. He showed today it was no fluke his last Group 1. He's pretty cool."

Verry Elleegant was being vetted immediately after the race as she ran below expectations for fourth as the $2.10 favourite.

Jockey Damian Lane explained later to stewards that the nine-time G1 winner travelled well in the run but didn't finish the race off.

Danny O'Brien said he came to the races expecting Young Werther to run well and he was thrilled with his second placing.

"We are very pleased," he said. "Today was always the day that you expect these Cups horses to put their hand up and show they are on target and we've been really happy with him, really for the last 12 months."

O'Brien admitted his galloper faces a task beating Incentivise in two weeks in the Caulfield Cup.

"I thought he was the winner inside the clock tower but fair play to Incentivise, he wouldn't let us pass. He's top class. He was there to be beaten and he wouldn't let us pass," he said.

"We've got some work to do to turn the tables in two weeks' time but our bloke will be there and in the mix."

Ciaron Maher said Sir Dragonet endued a tough run three-wide and will be ridden a little quieter next in the Cox Plate, while he said his Caulfield Cup horse Explosive Jack and Persan performed well two weeks out from that race.

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