Twilight Payment has 6lb more to carry than when landing this prestigious Group 1 handicap 12 months ago and may encounter traffic problems from stall two but Joseph O’Brien’s stayer arrives in good form again and makes more appeal than Andrew Balding’s Yorkshire Cup winner Spanish Mission, who has had an interrupted preparation. The Chosen One, Persan and Verry Elleegant were all unplaced last year but Grand Promenade is interesting having beaten subsequent winner Tralee Rose, Master Of Wine, Selino and Pondus in a Group 3 here a month ago. INCENTIVISE romped to a comfortable victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup last month, despite having to race wide throughout. Peter Moody’s exciting five-year-old has a 4lb penalty to carry in this but will almost certainly relish the longer trip and can provide a local success.
Twilight Payment (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) Chased leader, moderate 2nd halfway, closed 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, headed 1f out, rallied and pressed winner inside final furlong, held close home, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Sonnyboyliston (9-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Incentivise (AUS) (8-10) won at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct beating Nonconformist (8-2) by 3 1/2l, 18 ran.
Spanish Mission (USA) 15-8 (9-3) Held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, close up over 1f out, edged ahead inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 4, hd behind Stradivarius (9-3) at York 2m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Verry Elleegant (NZ) 5-4 (9-0) 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Addeybb (9-4) at Randwick 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gd in Apr.
Explosive Jack (NZ) (8-7) 17th of 18, 16 3/4l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
The Chosen One (NZ) (8-7) 14th of 18, 10 3/4l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Delphi (IRE) (8-4) 13th of 18, 10 1/2l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Ocean Billy (NZ) (8-6) 9th of 18, 9l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Selino (UNR) (8-6) 15th of 18, 11 1/4l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Johnny Get Angry (NZ) Tavistock M out of Luminova.
Knights Order (IRE) So You Think M out of Lamanka Lass.
Persan (AUS) (8-5) 3rd of 18, 5 1/4l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Carif (AUS) (8-10) 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Raheen House (8-11) at Randwick 1m 5f Grp 2 hcp gd in Apr.
Master Of Wine (GER) (8-4) 12th of 18, 10l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Pondus (UNR) Sea The Moon M out of Diablerette.
Grand Promenade (UNR) Champs Elysees M out of Zacchera.
Miami Bound (NZ) Reliable Man filly out of Arapaho Miss.
Port Guillaume (FR) (8-3) 10th of 18, 9 1/4l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
She's Ideel (AUS) (8-3) 7th of 18, 6 3/4l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Tralee Rose (NZ) Tavistock filly out of Star Of Tralee.
Floating Artist (UNR) Nathaniel M out of Miss Kenton.
Great House (IRE) (7-12) 5th of 18, 5 1/2l behind Incentivise (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Sir Lucan (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear on inside, pushed along and weakened over 3f out, 8th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Hurricane Lane (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Sep.
Future Score (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Squeezed out start, headway to lead over 6f out, ridden and headed 2f out, tracked leader, hung left approaching final furlong, driven inside final furlong, quickened to lead close home, won at Pontefract 1m stks (5) gd in Jul beating Cheer The Title (9-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
