Comeback stayer Kincaple (NZ) punched his ticket to the Melbourne spring carnival with a rousing win in Saturday’s G3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) at Belmont Park.

The powerhouse gelding stormed home to nail Moonlight Drive (Catbird) by a neck in a driving finish to the $125,000 weight-for-age feature.

Kincaple (7g Pentire – Kincaple Lass by Kaapstad) was racing second-up after an 18 month injury-enforced spell and the victory vindicated trainer Adam Durrant’s confidence in the gelding.  “This guy has a big motor and it was just a matter of me getting him up in condition,” Durrant said.  “Good horses lift when they have to and he showed that today.”

Kincaple won the 2011 Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) and was favourite for the 2012 Perth Cup (2400m) before tearing suspensory ligaments.

The Kiwi bred stayer will accompany stablemate Mr Moet to Melbourne in September where he will be aimed at the rich country cups circuit.  He could also run in middle-distance support races in Melbourne.

Kincaple had won at Cranbourne (2) and Seymour for trainer Jim Conlon before heading west as an autumn four year-old.

Bred by Christchurch based obstetrician John Doig, Kincaple was a $150,000 purchase for Robert Roulston Bloodstock from Rich Hill Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale.