While focus will be on Flemington for the iconic Melbourne Cup this Tuesday, there’ll be plenty of action in Sydney as Royal Randwick is throwing down its own challenge with a ten-race extravaganza headlined by the $3 million Big Dance.
The Little Dance and the Barn Dance will also light up the track so get your dancing shoes ready!
I’ve done the form and locked in my top picks which you can find below in my 2025 Big Dance Day Preview.
NATOYA lines up off a commanding victory over the mile at Newcastle, and she looks well suited here with the rise in trip.
It was the third start on Australian soil for the former New Zealand mare, and she looks well on her way to rise through the grades.
She showed plenty of promise in four starts in her homeland before making her way to John Sargent’s stable, where she has pleased in all three outings since her arrival.
Jason Collett will do the steering and any moisture in the track will only enhance her chances.
PETTICOAT has performed very well in both of her runs this campaign and she looks well placed to get another win on the board.
The Better Than Ready mare proved superior when making her return over this course and distance in September, racing up on speed and showing plenty of heart to hold out the challengers.
She then headed to Brisbane where she bumped into a handy one over the 1000m at Eagle Farm and beaten only a head, she held a three-length margin back to the rest.
Proven on soft tracks, she draws to get the right run and Anna Roper’s 2kg claim sees her in nicely at the weights.
CARBONADOS resumes.
Prepared by the Lindsay Park team, the gelding holds an excellent first up record, and he looks ready to go off two very encouraging jump outs.
A five-time winner, he knows how to get the job done and he looks ideally placed here kicking off at 1200m.
Nash Rawiller jumps aboard and with the low draw, he’s set to get the run of the race.
BLUE WILLOW returns to the races.
Now under the care of Ciaron Maher, Godolphin’s Blue Point mare has shown talent in her four career starts and she looks progressive.
Placed at her first two outings, she then recorded a dominant three length victory in heavy conditions at Newcastle.
Slowly away over 1550m at Canterbury, she settled at the tail and closed off strongly into second.
She kicks off here on the back of a pleasing trial performance and the 1300m first up will suit.
JUSTADEEL comes off a Coonamble Cup win, and I think he can measure up here in the Big Dance.
The Dundeel gelding has put together a very tidy record, and he looks likely to continue his rise through the grades.
After a lengthy stint on the sidelines, he made his return over 1300m on the Sandown Hillside, where he was beaten by only the barest of margins.
With the added fitness, he proved too good at his following outing and was solid when stepping up in grade off a five week freshen up, at his third run back.
Lightly raced, he’s doing everything right and he’s unbeaten in two starts over the mile.
He drops 6.5kgs on that Coonamble Cup win and the inside draw can see him settle in a prominent position under Tyler Schiller.
SO YOU PENCE produced a gallant effort in The Kosciuszko and looks set to relish the slight rise to 1300m.
Settling back in the three wide line, the So You Think mare travelled well throughout and worked home strongly to finish less than two lengths away in fifth.
Lightly raced, she’s recorded three wins and three second placings from her eight career starts and a couple of those victories have been dominant.
At her third run back, she presents at peak fitness and draws to enjoy a soft run in transit under Ash Morgan.
HOLLYWOOD HERO comes off a solid first up effort over 1400m, and he will have taken plenty of improvement from the run.
From a wide gate, the son of Sacred Falls got back but was never closer than three deep and still finished off strongly into sixth.
Not a noted first up performer, he boasts a solid second up record and he excels over the mile.
He drops 3kgs on that first up outing and he’ll relish getting onto a track with plenty of give.
ACCREDITED kicks off his preparation.
The Joe Pride trained son of All Too Hard has worked through his grades with relative ease, recording seven wins from his nineteen starts and he boasts a strong first up record.
He was in top form last campaign, saluting over 1200m here before placing in both the Listed Winter Stakes and Winter Challenge Stakes.
Given just the one 805m trial, he looks primed to fire over the 1100m and gate two will see him afforded all the favours under Jason Collett.
KINTYRE hasn’t seen the winner’s stall for quite some time but he’s sure to appreciate the sharp drop back in grade.
He blew the start when resuming here in the Bill Ritchie and was just okay second up in the Listed Weekend Hustler at Caulfield.
Last start he contested the Filante, he was three wide without cover throughout and just felt the pinch late.
A dual stakes winner, the son of Hallowed Crown is certainly capable, and he should find this easier than what he’s been contesting.
He’s fit, he draws to get the gun run and gets in nicely with Molly Burke’s 3kg claim.
SUNRISE didn’t have the easiest of runs when resuming over 1100m at Rosehill, but she’ll strip fitter from the outing.
Kicking off in a BM78 Handicap, the Charm Spirit mare was always wide and exposed throughout and it tolled late.
She trialled exceptionally well prior to her return and with the slight drop back in trip and added fitness, I think we’ll see much improved performance from her here.
She put the writing on the wall last campaign, with back-to-back wins in dominant fashion and she runs up to her best, she’ll be hard to beat.
Anna Roper takes over the steering, and her claim will see the mare carry just 53kgs.