The 2025 The Big Dance race runs at Randwick on November 4 in Sydney on the same day Flemington hosts the Melbourne Cup!
| 1. Gringotts (4) J: Nash Rawiller62kg 10x52T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 4. Vivy Air (16) J: Andrew Adkins54.5kg 22x21T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Lugh (17) J: Regan Bayliss53kg x4131T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 16. Justadeel (1) J: Tyler Schiller53kg x2131T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 10. Matusalem (9) J: Zac Lloyd53kg 13x40T: Chris Waller | ||
| 11. Cristal Clear (13) J: Braith Nock53kg 11126T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 12. Lord Of Biscay (5) J: Dylan Gibbons53kg 2x363T: Kris Lees | ||
| 3. Tavi Time (7) J: Jay Ford57kg 12x45T: Kris Lees | ||
| 6. Ruby Flyer (11) J: Jason Collett54kg 91902T: Brad Widdup | ||
| 2. Headley Grange (14) J: Adam Hyeronimus61kg 16111T: Joseph Pride | ||
| 14. Cranky Harry (10) J: Alysha Collett53kg 02614T: Matthew Dunn | ||
| 13. Time Quest (6) J: Ashley Morgan53kg 70143T: Matthew Smith | ||
| 15. Boys Night Out (18) J: Jake Bayliss53kg 111x7T: Matthew Dunn | ||
| 7. Lavish Empire (2) J: Tom Sherry54kg 00x20T: Peter Snowden | ||
| 5. Les Vampires (8) J: Winona Costin54kg 11x05T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 19. Hot Bandit (12) J: Louise Day53kg 1x893T: Luke Pepper | ||
| 18. Aix En Provence (19) J: Dean Yendall53kg 85411T: Nacim Dilmi | ||
| 17. Super Helpful (20) J: Reece Jones53kg 89534T: B Joseph & P & M Jones | ||
| 20. Louie's Legacy (15) J: Anna Roper53kg 31764T: B Joseph & P & M Jones | ||
| 22. Ring Ahoy (3) J: Siena Grima53kg 074x4T: David Hatch |
The Big Dance Info
- 2025 The Big Dance Date: Tuesday the 4th of November 2025
- Track Location: Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Distance: 1600m
- Conditions: Quality Handicap; 3YOs & Upwards; Qualifying Race Placegetters
- Status: Listed
- Prize Money (AUD): $3,000,000
- First Run: 2022
- Reigning The Big Dance Winner: Gringotts (2024)
Looking for the latest The Big Dance betting odds, insider racing tips and form for the Sydney feature race this Melbourne Cup Day? The TAB NZ have all the best betting guides and statistics to make informed bets on The Big Dance race this spring!
A fresh highlight on the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival calendar, The Big Dance is a 1600m handicap showdown held on the first Tuesday of November — the same day as Flemington’s iconic Melbourne Cup race. While eyes turn to the staying test down south, Royal Randwick Racecourse hosts its own blockbuster, adding depth to the $50 million-plus The Everest Carnival.
Open to gallopers aged three and up, The Big Dance is designed to reward consistency across regional racing. Horses earn their spot by winning or placing second in selected Country Cup races throughout the year — including the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) and Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).
There’s also a final chance to qualify via the Big Dance Wild Card at Randwick on Everest Day, with both the winner and runner-up gaining automatic entry. For Kiwi punters, it’s a race worth watching — combining grassroots form with Group-level ambition and offering serious value in the market.
Conducted by the Australian Turf Club (ATC), it is considered one of Australia’s leading middle-distance races and attracts some of the best gallopers in the country with AU$3 million in prize money.
To improve your chances of predicting the next The Big Dance winner, access the latest The Big Dance odds and tips online at the TAB NZ.
TAB NZ provides in-depth analysis, form guides, and betting insights to help you navigate the competitive field of spring contenders.
Whether you’re a seasoned punter or new to betting on the horse races in Australia and New Zealand, our comprehensive The Big Dance coverage has everything you need.
From country cups to carnival glory — bet on this year’s The Big Dance race with TAB NZ!
The Big Dance Fast Facts
- Last favourite to win The Big Dance: No favourite has won the race to date
- Notable Fact: In 2024 The Big Dance officially gained Black-Type status
Bet on the 2025 The Big Dance race now!
The Big Dance Betting Info
The Big Dance betting is open ahead of $3 million Sydney, spring race down under at the TAB NZ.
The Big Dance betting takes place on the popular race which is held at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse on the first Tuesday of November annually as part of The Everest Carnival.
We offer pre-nomination The Big Dance betting odds throughout the year that are known as futures The Big Dance odds online.
All-In The Big Dance betting markets are then available following the official The Big Dance nominations taken the week prior the race.
Betting on The Big Dance is available following final acceptances which close on the Friday prior to the race.
Betting on The Big Dance favours mile specialists who are usually at the end of their spring campaigns and five-year-olds who won the opening three editions from 2022-24.
The Big Dance race betting traditionally focuses on proven Black-Type performers, especially any Group 1 horses down in grade.
For the best online betting on The Big Dance, consider tipping a horse to win both an earlier Group status race and this lucrative Listed feature during the carnival in a spring double!
Expert Tips on The Big Dance
Stay tuned for our expert tips and The Big Dance betting predictions ahead of this year’s $3 million feature at Randwick on Cup Day.
CRISTAL CLEAR (15) shapes as a genuine Each Way contender in Tuesday’s $3 million Big Dance at Randwick, and Kiwi punters on TAB NZ looking for value should take note. Despite drawing wide, this consistent Exceedance gelding from the Archibald stable has been in cracking form, stringing together three straight wins earlier in the prep — including a gritty Dubbo Cup triumph under 59kg. He lost no admirers last start when narrowly edged out over the mile at Warwick Farm, conceding significant weight to the winner. On Tuesday, he drops to a featherweight 53kg, which could prove a game-changer late. Apprentice Braith Nock sticks with him, and their growing partnership is a big plus. With a strong 1600m record (6:3-1-0) and a proven will to fight, Cristal Clear looks well placed to run a bold race. He’ll need a touch of luck from the draw, but don’t be surprised if he’s storming into the placings alongside the likes of reigning champ and Group 1 winner Gringotts.
The Big Dance Tips
The Big Dance tips on which horse will win the next edition of Sydney’s 1500m feature flood in as the countdown to the important Randwick race heats up.
The Big Dance race tips on what horse will win the event this year are highly sought after by smart punters and racing fans every season.
When looking at The Big Dance race tips it is important to consider factors including:
- What horses in The Big Dance field are proven over the distance?
- Who the key The Big Dance trainers and jockeys are and what horses they have in the field this year?
- The Big Dance barrier statistics and where your betting selections are drawn.
- The Big Dance horses that have a good past record at the track.
How long does it take to know if you placed a winning The Big Dance race tip? The event itself takes around one and a half minutes for the competing horses to run the 1,500m trip depending on track conditions.
The official The Big Dance winner and winning The Big Dance trifecta are known shortly after unless there is a protest or a photo-finish result.
Who holds The Big Dance race record? The inaugural champion Rustic Steel holds the current 1600m The Big Dance race record winning in 2022 in a time of 1 minutes 33.87 seconds.
What are the best The Big Dance lead-up races to look at when placing a bet?
Horses in The Big Dance field often come into the race via lead-up runs in events including any of the official country cup lead-ups held throughout the year and the lucrative $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill in early October,
Gringotts (2nd in 2024) was the last Alan Brown Stakes graduate to go on and win The Big Dance.
New Zealand Bred Horses in The Big Dance
Betting on the New Zealand-bred horses in the field is popular with Kiwi punters, and the race results show Gringotts (2024) was the last New Zealand foaled champion.
The Big Dance Tips for a Trifecta
The Big Dance tips for a trifecta cover the first three horses to officially go past the finishing post in The Big Dance results.
The horse to finish on top of The Big Dance trifecta is your The Big Dance winner, the runner who outlasted all their rivals and finished in the fastest time.
Placing a The Big Dance trifecta exotic bet on the race is a great way to add to the thrill and potentially be rewarded with a generous pay-out.
A The Big Dance trifecta is only successful if the three horses in your bet finish in the exact order you predict. Punters may choose instead to box their trifecta bets on The Big Dance to cover more finishing options and increase the chances of winning.
Avoiding putting the favourite on top in your The Big Dance trifecta bets is a top tip as the favourites have a poor record in the event.
Key The Big Dance Statistics and Insights
Place an informed bet on this year’s The Big Dance by considering the following key statistics and insights:
- Win Rates: Horses with high win rates in similar races are strong contenders for The Big Dance. Our The Big Dance betting tips available at the TAB NZ Punters Lounge provide detailed win rate statistics.
- Place Percentages: Evaluate horses with consistent place percentages, indicating reliability and competitiveness. The Big Dance race tips offer comprehensive data on place percentages.
- Barrier Success Rates: Horses starting from barrier 7 have historically shown a higher success rate in the race with the first two champions coming from that midfield gate.
The Big Dance odds are offered on the important Black-Type event, and the field attracts a host of quality country gallopers coming via top two positions in the official qualifying races around New South Wales.
The Listed The Big Dance is one of Sydney’s most popular spring horse races and has been run and won since 2022 when Rustic Steel won.
Winning The Big Dance is a significant achievement in the racing community, and the event attracts lots of attention from punters both locally and internationally in New Zealand as the season’s best country gallopers vie for huge prize money on Australia’s biggest day of racing.
The Big Dance is currently run over 1,600m and it officially gained Listed status in 2024.
For the 2025 The Big Dance field there are 32 Country Cups designated as qualifiers held during 2024/25.
The Big Dance Day
The Big Dance 2025 will be held on Tuesday the 4th of November at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, and it is a key fixture of the wider Sydney Everest Carnival.
This high-stakes 1600m handicap race is a centrepiece of Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival, sharing the spotlight with Melbourne Cup Day. With $3 million in prize money and a field drawn from Country Cup qualifiers and Wild Card entries, it’s become a must-watch event for TAB NZ punters looking for value and excitement.
Get the best The Big Dance Day racing odds for Sydney, racing stats, previews, form and insider tips on races like the meeting’s feature race now at the TAB NZ!
The Big Dance Field
The Big Dance field attracts a line-up of top-line horses each season with runners coming from stables around Australia and New Zealand.
How Horses Qualify for The Big Dance
The Big Dance is Sydney’s $3 million mile feature, run at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, and it’s fast becoming a favourite among TAB NZ punters chasing value and form depth. With a capacity field of 20, it brings together the best-performed runners from New South Wales’ Country Cup circuit — many hailing from Sydney’s top stables.
To earn a spot, horses must finish first or second in one of Racing NSW’s designated qualifying races held throughout the year. Among the most prominent are the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) and Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (2000m), but there are dozens of regional contests feeding into the final field. Importantly, horses can contest multiple qualifiers even after securing a spot.
For those who miss out, there’s one last chance via the Big Dance Wild Card, held over the Randwick mile on Everest Day in mid-October. Open to horses that have contested but not won a qualifier, the top two finishers in the Wild Card gain automatic entry into The Big Dance.
A new form guide for punters is the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill, which has emerged as a key lead-up. In 2023, Cepheus won the inaugural edition and carried top weight into The Big Dance, only to be narrowly beaten by upset winner Attractable. Tragically, Cepheus was later euthanised after a trackwork incident the following spring.
In 2024, Gringotts went one better — improving off a second in the Alan Brown to win The Big Dance, proving the race is now a serious spring pointer. For Kiwi punters, tracking these pathways is essential to finding value in one of Sydney’s richest and most competitive mile events.
The Big Dance Field & Acceptance Dates
It is crucial to take note of when The Big Dance field is out, what time the official The Big Dance nominations close and the final The Big Dance acceptance dates when placing a bet online as horses may drop out of the race and bets may be cancelled.
See below for the official The Big Dance field dates for 2025.
- 2025 The Big Dance Nominations: Close on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 11:00pm (Sydney time).
- 2025 The Big Dance Final Field: Revealed on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 9:00am (Sydney time).
- 2025 The Big Dance Barrier Draw: Conducted on Friday, October31, 2025.
Where can you bet on The Big Dance?
The best place to bet on this year’s The Big Dance race is through the TAB NZ online.
The Big Dance Odds
The Big Dance odds and online betting tips on The Big Dance are dominated by proven Group winning horses, the five-year-old runners in the race and gallopers with a past run in the big city Sydney tracks who have a great record in the event.
Where can I find The Big Dance odds?
For the latest odds and updates on The Big Dance, TAB NZ is your go-to source. They provide real-time odds fluctuations, ensuring you have the most current information to make informed betting decisions. It’s crucial to monitor these odds closely, as they reflect the market’s perception of each horse’s chances, influenced by factors like form, barrier draw, and track conditions.
How to Place a Bet on The Big Dance
Want to know how to make a bet on The Big Dance? Visit the TAB NZ racing page to access the latest The Big Dance betting odds and options.
It is simple to learn how to place a bet on The Big Dance online.
You can place a The Big Dance bet online anytime markets are live.
There are more ways than ever to get involved in betting on The Big Dance.
From seasoned punters analysing form guides to casual racing fans drawn to the excitement, The Big Dance is a race for everyone.
Whether you’re diving deep into the latest The Big Dance race field, joining a sweepstake with friends, or simply enjoying the atmosphere of the spring carnival at Royal Randwick, The Big Dance race has it all!
This important spring race showcases New South Wales’s finest country trained thoroughbreds and attracts attention from all over the country because of it is held on the first Tuesday of November – which is Melbourne Cup Day further south!
How to Bet on The Big Dance in 2025?
1. Log in or sign-up with TAB NZ.
2. Make a secure online deposit using one of the TAB NZ safe deposit methods.
3. Check out The Big Dance betting guide, The Big Dance form guide and our expert The Big Dance racing tips.
4. Choose a The Big Dance bet to place such as Win, Place, Each-Way or The Big Dance Trifecta. There are many more The Big Dance betting options available so make sure to check out our The Big Dance betting markets.
5. Select The Big Dance horse you want to bet on from the early markets, The Big Dance nominations or The Big Dance field.
What makes betting on The Big Dance so popular?
The fact that The Big Dance is now a three-million-dollar race and the biggest Melbourne Cup Day race held in Sydney make it a must watch and must bet on horse racing event.
The Big Dance is perfectly placed on the biggest day of racing down under.
Betting on The Big Dance is popular because it combines high prize money, regional form intrigue, and Melbourne Cup Day excitement — all in one race.
Here’s why TAB NZ punters are increasingly drawn to The Big Dance:
Massive Prize Pool
$3 million in prize money makes The Big Dance one of the richest mile races in Australia.
It’s a Listed feature, but the stakes are Group 1-level, attracting serious betting interest.
Unique Field Composition
The race is restricted to winners and runners-up from selected NSW Country Cups, giving punters a rare chance to back proven regional performers on the big stage.
Horses qualify via races like the Scone Cup, Wagga Wagga Gold Cup, and the Big Dance Wild Card — adding layers of form analysis and value hunting.
Melbourne Cup Day Spotlight
Held at Randwick on the first Tuesday of November, it runs alongside the Melbourne Cup, giving punters a full day of elite racing action across two states.
For Kiwi punters, it’s a chance to find value outside the heavily bet Melbourne Cup field.
Form Angles & Upset Potential
With horses coming from varied distances and tracks, form lines are diverse, making it a playground for sharp punters.
Recent editions have seen roughies upset favourites, like Attractable in 2023, proving it’s a race where longshots can land.
Strategic Betting Appeal
The Big Dance offers plenty of exotic betting opportunities — trifectas, first fours, and multis — thanks to its full field and unpredictable tempo.
The inclusion of the Alan Brown Stakes as a key lead-up adds another layer for punters tracking form.
Whether you’re chasing value, backing a country hero, or looking for an alternative to the Melbourne Cup, The Big Dance delivers a thrilling betting experience for TAB NZ punters.
How many mares have won The Big Dance?
None. To date no mare has been successful in The Big Dance race with the opening three editions from 2022-24 all won by five-year-old geldings.
What age group has the best The Big Dance record?
Five-year-olds have dominated The Big Dance results winning the first three editions between 2022-24.
The Big Dance Prize Money
The Big Dance prize money may not compare to the stakes on offer in events like the A$20 million The Everest and A$10 million The Golden Eagle which are both held in Sydney over the spring, but it remains a highlight of the Australian racing calendar as the richest race for country trained horses in Sydney.
The Big Dance prize money is set at A$3,000,000 in total stakes allocated between first to tenth place.
How much does The Big Dance winner get? The winning The Big Dance horse receives a total of A$1,725,000 in prize money.
See below for the official breakdown of The Big Dance prizes on offer from The Big Dance winner to the tenth horse to cross the finish line in the official The Big Dance results.
- First: A$1,725,000
- Second: A$560,000
- Third: A$280,000
- Fourth: A$135,000
- Fifth: A$75,000
- Sixth: A$40,000
- Seventh – Eighth: A$35,000
- Ninth – Tenth: A$20,000
The Big Dance Barriers
The Big Dance barrier draw and allocated The Big Dance starting gates play a key role for many punters when deciding on what horses to bet on in the big race.
When is The Big Dance barrier draw?
The Big Dance barrier draw is conducted on the same day as final acceptances close which is the Friday prior to the race around 9:00am local Sydney time.
What is the most successful The Big Dance barrier draw?
Barrier 7 produced the opening two champions with Rustic Steel (2022) and Attractable (2023) before Gringotts won from barrier 19 in 2025.
The Big Dance Form
We offer a complete The Big Dance form guide and expert analysis on every horse in The Big Dance field in addition to insider The Big Dance racing tips and betting odds.
Our The Big Dance form guides include:
- The Big Dance race preview and predictions
- Racing analysis on the event and runners
- Previous runs, barrier trials and lead-up statistics
- Key information on all horses in the race like trainer and jockey form
- Runner commentary
Whether you are just starting out tipping horses in The Big Dance or you are an expert The Big Dance tipster, our form guide gives you all the statistics and information you need to make a smart bet on The Big Dance.
How to Read The Big Dance Form Guide
Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how to interpret a horse’s form and performance indicators when looking at this year’s The Big Dance form guide:
Barrier Position: Evaluate the horse’s barrier draw and its historical performance from similar starting positions.
Recent Performances: Review the horse’s last few races, focusing on finish positions and the quality of competition faced.
Track and Distance Records: Check the horse’s performance on similar track conditions and distances to gauge suitability.
Jockey and Trainer Stats: Consider the success rates of the jockey and trainer combination, particularly in The Big Dance race and the lead-up qualifying events.
Weight Carried: Analyse how the weight carried in previous races compares to The Big Dance as this can impact performance.
The Big Dance Results
The Big Dance results are known when the event takes place on the first Tuesday of November annually.
You can bet on The Big Dance race results weeks ahead of race day with our futures The Big Dance markets here at the TAB NZ.
Betting on The Big Dance results entails picking The Big Dance winning horse and we can help you place an informed bet on The Big Dance field with our The Big Dance race tips and form guide.
Other The Big Dance race results include the winning jockeys, trainers, successful barrier and finishing time.
The complete The Big Dance finishing order shows what position every horse in the field ran.
Some punters even like to place bets on what horse will finish last in The Big Dance results!
The Big Dance exotic results show how all the exotic The Big Dance bet types resulted like The Big Dance Quinella, The Big Dance Exacta, The Big Dance Trifecta, and The Big Dance First Four.
The Big Dance Jockeys
Securing a ride in The Big Dance field is a highly sought-after achievement for jockeys around Australia and New Zealand. Winning this important spring race is a nice campaign goal for many of Australasia’s top riders looking to secure a trophy during the carnival.
What jockeys are riding in The Big Dance field is determined by the owners and trainers of the horses, and official The Big Dance jockey announcements are made in the weeks and days leading up to the race.
Nash Rawiller rode the first The Big Dance winner, Rustic Steel, to victory in 2022.
Regan Bayliss won the second edition aboard Attractable in 2023.
Tommy Berry is the latest The Big Dance winning jockey aboard Gringotts in 2024.
Stay tuned to the TAB NZ racing blog to see what jockeys lock in a confirmed ride on one of The Big Dance horses this summer.
The Big Dance Trainers
Newcastle horseman Kris Lees won the inaugural The Big Dance with Rustic Steel in 2022.
Sara Ryan became the first female trainer to take out the race with Attractable in 2023.
Ciaron Maher is the latest The Big Dance winning trainer having prepared Gringotts in 2024.
The Big Dance Winners
Past The Big Dance winners throughout history are detailed below.
Rustic Steel (2022): The inaugural running of The Big Dance in 2022 was taken out by Rustic Steel, trained by Kris Lees and ridden by Nash Rawiller. Coming off a strong win in the Scone Cup — one of the key qualifying races — Rustic Steel proved his class with a powerful finish over the Randwick mile. Already a multiple stakes winner, his versatility across distances and consistency made him a deserving first champion of the $3 million feature.
Attractable (2023): In 2023, it was Attractable who stunned punters with a boilover victory. Trained by Sara Ryan and guided by Regan Bayliss, Attractable came into the race off a fourth-place finish in the Alan Brown Stakes — a race that would soon become a key form reference. Despite being overlooked in the market, he produced a perfectly timed run to defeat the heavily favoured Cepheus, who carried top weight. The win marked a career highlight for both horse and trainer, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the race.
Gringotts (2024): The 2024 edition saw a Kiwi-bred galloper rise to the occasion, with Gringotts delivering a barnstorming finish to claim victory. Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Tommy Berry, Gringotts had finished second in the Alan Brown Stakes and used that as a springboard into The Big Dance. Overcoming a wide draw, he surged late to edge out stablemate Vivy Air, giving Maher a memorable quinella. The win cemented Gringotts as one of the most promising New Zealand-bred performers in Australia and highlighted the growing influence of Kiwi bloodlines in major Sydney features.
Past The Big Dance Results
Previous The Big Dance winners, jockeys, trainers, barriers, and weights carried to victory dating back to the race’s inaugural edition in 2022 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner – Age/Gender Breeding | Jockey | Weight (kgs) | Trainer/s | Barrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRINGOTTS (NZ) 5G PER INCANTO (USA) – MISS BLUEBELL (NZ) SAVABEEL (AUS) | TOMMY BERRY | 58.5 | CIARON MAHER | 19 | |
| ATTRACTABLE (AUS) 5G I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) – AFFABLE (AUS) HUSSON (ARG) | REGAN BAYLISS | 56.5 | SARA RYAN | 7 | |
| RUSTIC STEEL (AUS) 5G DEEP FIELD (AUS) – TEN CARAT ROCK (AUS) ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) | N RAWILLER | 59.0 | KRIS LEES | 7 |