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Flying to Melbourne has been ruled out for Incentivise who will instead make the trip by road. 

Ruling Caulfield and Melbourne Cups favourite Incentivise is expected to travel by road to Victoria to join the stable of Peter Moody. 

Back after a break with Toowoomba trainer Steve Tregea, it was hoped Incentivise would be flown to Melbourne, but with plane travel too difficult at this COVID time, it will be a two-night road trip. 

Tregea does not see the long-haul, which includes a stopover in Sydney, posing a problem. 

"The transport companies have an exemption, providing they have all their paperwork in place and they follow all the rules," Tregea told RSN. 

"It just means we probably can't fly him down there, which was the initial plan. 

"He's travelled three hours to the races, that's the most he's done, but I think he'd be alright with it. 

"He did very well in the paddock, put on a bit of weight, and he'll get a bit of time to get over it." 

Tregea said it would be interesting to see how Incentivise measures up in Melbourne having won six of his nine starts, the last three by a combined total of 30-½ lengths. 

Moody was in Brisbane when Incentivise won, by 12 lengths, the Group 3 Tattersalls Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 26. 

"Peter spent a bit of time at the stables and had a look at our routine and came to the races that day," Tregea said. 

"He's got a bit of a feel for the horse already and I've told him a few little funny traits about the horse. 

"He'll slot in down there somewhere and I'd imagine he won't have any troubles with him and if he wants to know anything about him, I'll be happy to tell him." 

Tregea said, all-going-well, Incentivise was expected to kick off his Cups campaign in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 11.