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The $3 million Big Dance race is a lucrative Listed feature run at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day each year.
2025 The Big Dance Results
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
The Big Dance News
The Big Dance is a $3 million race introduced by Racing NSW that runs at Randwick Racecourse on Melbourne Cup Day each year that gained Listed status in 2024.
The Big Dance 2025 Results
|
1st
1. Gringotts (4)
J: Nash Rawiller 62kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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2nd
4. Vivy Air (16)
J: Andrew Adkins 54.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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3rd
8. Lugh (17)
J: Regan Bayliss 53kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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|
4th
16. Justadeel (1)
J: Tyler Schiller 53kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
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5th
10. Matusalem (9)
J: Zac Lloyd 53kg
T: Chris Waller |
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6th
11. Cristal Clear (13)
J: Braith Nock 53kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
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|
7th
12. Lord Of Biscay (5)
J: Dylan Gibbons 53kg
T: Kris Lees |
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8th
3. Tavi Time (7)
J: Jay Ford 57kg
T: Kris Lees |
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9th
6. Ruby Flyer (11)
J: Jason Collett 54kg
T: Brad Widdup |
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10th
2. Headley Grange (14)
J: Adam Hyeronimus 61kg
T: Joseph Pride |
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11th
14. Cranky Harry (10)
J: Alysha Collett 53kg
T: Matthew Dunn |
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12th
13. Time Quest (6)
J: Ashley Morgan 53kg
T: Matthew Smith |
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13th
15. Boys Night Out (18)
J: Jake Bayliss 53kg
T: Matthew Dunn |
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14th
7. Lavish Empire (2)
J: Tom Sherry 54kg
T: Peter Snowden |
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15th
5. Les Vampires (8)
J: Winona Costin 54kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
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|
16th
19. Hot Bandit (12)
J: Louise Day 53kg
T: Luke Pepper |
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|
17th
18. Aix En Provence (19)
J: Dean Yendall 53kg
T: Nacim Dilmi |
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|
18th
17. Super Helpful (20)
J: Reece Jones 53kg
T: B Joseph & P & M Jones |
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|
19th
20. Louie's Legacy (15)
J: Anna Roper 53kg
T: B Joseph & P & M Jones |
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|
20th
22. Ring Ahoy (3)
J: Siena Grima 53kg
T: David Hatch |
A key addition to the lucrative Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, the mile showdown takes place over 1600m on the first Tuesday of November, the same date as Flemington’s famous Melbourne Cup.
Further adding to the prestige of the wider The Everest Carnival, offering in excess of $50 million in prize money, The Big Dance is a quality handicap event open to horses aged three-years-old and upwards.
Eligibility for the event is via a win or second place in a host of selected Country Cup races held throughout the year including the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) and the Listed Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).
The winner and runner-up in The Big Dance Wild Card event at Randwick on The Everest Day are also exempt from ballot for the feature.
The 2023 The Big Dance form was franked with the upset winner Attractable going on to run second in the $2 million Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) that December.
The 2024 The Big Dance winner, Gringotts, went on to frank the form with a next-up win in the $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange before returning in the autumn of 2025 to enjoy a Group 1 George Ryder Stakes win in Sydney.
For the 2025 The Big Dance field there are 32 Country Cups designated as qualifiers held during 2024/25.
The fourth edition of The Big Dance in 2025 runs on Tuesday November 4, 2025 at Royal Randwick as an official Listed event.
| The Big Dance 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Tuesday November 4, 2025 |
| Track: | Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1600m |
| Race Type: | Quality Handicap – 3YOs & Upwards – Eligibility via runs in selected Country Cup races annually |
| Status: | Listed |
| Prize Money: | $3 million |
2025 The Big Dance Results
The official The Big Dance 2025 race results and finishing order will be updated below following the inaugural running of the $3 million event this Melbourne Cup Day in Sydney.
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
2025 The Big Dance Betting
The Big Dance 2025 betting odds and links to the latest prices at Ladbrokes.com.au will be available here at Races.com.au.
There was a notable upset in the inaugural event with Rustic Steel (2022) winning at Big Dance odds of $12 and again in 2023 with Attractable winning the second edition at $19.
2025 The Big Dance Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 BIG DANCE FORM GUIDE
2025 The Big Dance Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Big Dance 2025 Tips on the $3 million event this Melbourne Cup Day.
Each Way: No. 11 Cristal Clear
CRISTAL CLEAR (15) may be drawn wide in the Big Dance field but this consistent Exceedance four-year-old from the Archibald yard looks terrific Each Way value in the $3mil Sydney feature on Cup Day. He posted three wins on the trot including carrying 59kg to a half-length Dubbo Cup victory before a last start second over the mile at Warwick Farm when narrowly run down late having given plenty of weight away to the winner. Drops notably from 58.5kg in that to just 53kg on Tuesday and should be flying with that on his back. Apprentice Braith Nock continues his partnership and knows the horse very well now. Great record at the distance (6:3-1-0) and no doubt will need to dig deep against a quality field including the reigning champion and Group 1 winner GRINGOTTS but with luck from the draw a Top 3 run isn’t out of the question.
|
6th
11. Cristal Clear (13)
J: Braith Nock 53kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
2025 The Big Dance Field
The confirmed The Big Dance 2025 field of eligible Country Cup performers is announced on the Friday prior to the race and will be published below once confirmed.
2025 The Big Dance Final Acceptances – Close by 9am on Friday, 31 October 2025.
The Big Dance 2025 final field features a capacity line-up of NSW Country gallopers including the defending Ciaron Maher trained champion Gringotts carrying the 62kg topweight.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 110x310x52 | GRINGOTTS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Nash Rawiller | 5 | 62kg | 115 | ||
| 2 | 122×116111 | HEADLEY GRANGE | Joseph Pride | Adam Hyeronimus | 16 | 61kg | 112 | ||
| 3 | 31x2512x45 | TAVI TIME (NZ) | Kris Lees | Jay Ford | 8 | 57kg | 104 | ||
| 4 | x974522x21 | VIVY AIR | Ciaron Maher | Andrew Adkins | 18 | 54.5kg | 103 | ||
| 5 | 6x31411x05 | LES VAMPIRES | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Ms Winona Costin | 9 | 54kg | 98 | ||
| 6 | x97x091902 | RUBY FLYER | Brad Widdup | 13 | 54kg | 90 | |||
| 7 | x595100x20 | LAVISH EMPIRE | Peter Snowden | Tom Sherry | 3 | 54kg | 88 | ||
| 8 | 110x1x4131 | LUGH | Ciaron Maher | Regan Bayliss | 19 | 53kg | 80 | ||
| 9 | 6204441212 | FLYWHEEL | Robert Heathcote | Cieren Fallon | 22 | 54kg | 76 | ||
| 10 | 9962813×40 | MATUSALEM | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd | 10 | 53kg | 95 | ||
| 11 | 674×441112 | CRISTAL CLEAR | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Braith Nock (a) | 15 | 53kg | 88 | ||
| 12 | x81122x363 | LORD OF BISCAY (IRE) | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 6 | 53kg | 88 | ||
| 13 | 1030×70143 | TIME QUEST (GB) | Matthew Smith | Ashley Morgan | 7 | 53kg | 87 | ||
| 14 | 20×6502614 | CRANKY HARRY | Matthew Dunn | Ms Alysha Collett | 11 | 53kg | 86 | ||
| 15 | 1x622111x7 | BOYS NIGHT OUT | Matthew Dunn | Jake Bayliss | 20 | 53kg | 85 | ||
| 16 | 1x321x2131 | JUSTADEEL | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Tyler Schiller | 1 | 53kg | 81 | ||
| 17 | 565×089534 | SUPER HELPFUL | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | Reece Jones | 23 | 53kg | 80 | ||
| 18 | 28×1485411 | AIX EN PROVENCE | Nacim Dilmi | Dean Yendall | 21 | 53kg | 75 | ||
| 19 | 815121×893 | HOT BANDIT | Luke Pepper | Ms Louise Day | 14 | 53kg | 72 | ||
| 20 | 626×231764 | LOUIE’S LEGACY | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | Ms Anna Roper (a) | 17 | 53kg | 68 | ||
| 21e | 91009×0473 | DIRECT FIRE | Theresa Bateup | 24 | 53kg | 65 | |||
| 22e | 48305074×4 | RING AHOY | David Hatch | Ms Siena Grima (a) | 4 | 53kg | 51 | ||
| 23e | 1x9275x430 | OSIPENKO (NZ) | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 12 | 56.5kg | 103 | ||
| 24e | 112×920282 | BELVEDERE BOYS | Matthew Dunn | 2 | 54kg | 94 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 The Big Dance Nominations
Early The Big Dance 2025 nominations are updated following the official results from the qualifying races throughout the year.
Horses will automatically be nominated based the results of qualifying races before the official entries are taken.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x974522x21 | VIVY AIR | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 1 | 54.5kg | 54.5kg | 103 | |
| 2 | 110x310x52 | GRINGOTTS (NZ) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 2 | 62kg | 62kg | 115 | |
| 3 | 122×116111 | HEADLEY GRANGE | G | 5 | Joseph Pride | 3 | 61kg | 61kg | 112 | |
| 4 | 31x2512x45 | TAVI TIME (NZ) | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 4 | 57kg | 57kg | 104 | |
| 5 | 6x31411x05 | LES VAMPIRES | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 5 | 54kg | 54kg | 98 | |
| 6 | 9962813×40 | MATUSALEM | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 6 | 54kg | 53kg | 95 | |
| 7 | 320915×971 | IMPERIALIST (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 7 | 54kg | 53kg | 94 | |
| 8 | 51540×3710 | AGE OF SAIL (GB) | G | 7 | Kris Lees | 8 | 54kg | 53kg | 91 | |
| 9 | x97x091902 | RUBY FLYER | G | 7 | Brad Widdup | 9 | 54kg | 53kg | 90 | |
| 10 | 674×441112 | CRISTAL CLEAR | G | 4 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 10= | 54kg | 53kg | 88 | |
| 11 | x595100x20 | LAVISH EMPIRE | G | 6 | Peter Snowden | 10= | 54kg | 53kg | 88 | |
| 12 | x81122x363 | LORD OF BISCAY (IRE) | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 10= | 54kg | 53kg | 88 | |
| 13 | 1030×70143 | TIME QUEST (GB) | G | 7 | Matthew Smith | 13 | 54kg | 53kg | 87 | |
| 14 | 20×6502614 | CRANKY HARRY | G | 6 | Matthew Dunn | 14 | 54kg | 53kg | 86 | |
| 15 | 1x622111x7 | BOYS NIGHT OUT | G | 5 | Matthew Dunn | 15 | 54kg | 53kg | 85 | |
| 16 | 1x321x2131 | JUSTADEEL | G | 5 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 16 | 54kg | 53kg | 81 | |
| 17 | 110x1x4131 | LUGH | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 17= | 54kg | 53kg | 80 | |
| 18 | 565×089534 | SUPER HELPFUL | G | 7 | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | 17= | 54kg | 53kg | 80 | |
| 19 | 6204441212 | FLYWHEEL | G | 5 | Robert Heathcote | 19 | 54kg | 53kg | 76 | |
| 20 | 28×1485411 | AIX EN PROVENCE | G | 5 | Nacim Dilmi | 20 | 54kg | 53kg | 75 | |
| 21 | 815121×893 | HOT BANDIT | G | 5 | Luke Pepper | 21 | 54kg | 53kg | 72 | |
| 22 | 626×231764 | LOUIE’S LEGACY | G | 7 | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | 22 | 54kg | 53kg | 68 | |
| 23 | 91009×0473 | DIRECT FIRE | G | 5 | Theresa Bateup | 23 | 54kg | 53kg | 65 | |
| 24 | 48305074×4 | RING AHOY | G | 6 | David Hatch | 24 | 54kg | 53kg | 51 | |
| 25 | 1x9275x430 | OSIPENKO (NZ) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 25 | 56.5kg | 56.5kg | 103 | |
| 26 | 112×920282 | BELVEDERE BOYS | G | 6 | Matthew Dunn | 26 | 54kg | 53kg | 94 | |
| 27 | 320320×900 | GREBENI | G | 6 | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | 27 | 54kg | 53kg | 92 | |
| 28 | 53x062x700 | STRAIT ACER | G | 6 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 28 | 54kg | 53kg | 90 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Big Dance Qualifying Races
| Track | Cate | Race Club | Race Name | Distance | Winner | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gundagai | 14-Nov-24 | Gundagai-Adelong Race Club | Snake Gully Cup | 1400m | Clever Art | Asgarda |
| Kembla Grange | 23-Nov-24 | Illawarra Turf Club | The Gong | 1600m | Gringotts | Suparazi |
| Armidale | 8-Dec-24 | Armidale Jockey Club | Armidale Cup | 1900m | Ring Ahoy | Point Counterpoint |
| Nowra | 15-Dec-24 | Shoalhaven City Turf Club | Nowra Cup | 1600m | Super Helpful | Hollywood Hero |
| Moruya | 6-Jan-25 | Moruya Jockey Club Inc | Moruya Cup | 1425m | Charlemagne | All Machiavellian |
| Ballina | 17-Jan-25 | Ballina Jockey Club | Ballina Cup | 1590m | Lord Of Biscay | Captain Fenkel |
| Sapphire Coast | 2-Feb-25 | Sapphire Coast Turf Club | Bega Cup | 1600m | Direct Fire | Louie’s Legacy |
| Albury | 17-April-25(Rescheduled Date after original meeting abandoned) | Albury Racing Club | Albury Gold Cup | 2000m | Matusalem | Beltoro |
| Muswellbrook | 28-Mar-25 | Muswellbrook Race Club | Muswellbrook Gold Cup | 1500m | Lavish Empire | Grebeni |
| Wellington | 31-Mar-25 | Wellington Race Club | Wellington Cup | 1700m | Aimpoint | Cliff House |
| Orange | 11-Apr-25 | Racing Orange Ltd | Orange Gold Cup | 2100m | Campaldino | Steel Blaze |
| Tamworth | 24-Apr-25 | Tamworth Jockey Club | Tamworth Cup | 1400m | Name Dropper | Green Shadows |
| Wagga | 2-May-25 | Murrumbidgee Turf Club | Wagga Wagga Gold Cup | 2000m | Flying Bandit | Bianco Vilano |
| Hawkesbury | 3-May-25 | Hawkesbury Race Club | Hawkesbury Cup | 1600m | Punch Lane | Osipenko |
| Gosford | 10-May-25 | Gosford Race Club | Gosford Cup | 2100m | Les Vampires | Etna Rosso |
| Scone | 16-May-25 | Scone Race Club | Scone Cup | 1600m | Tavi Time | Strait Acer |
| Gunnedah | 25-May-25 | Gunnedah Jockey Club | Gunnedah Cup | 1600m | Osman | Fiorsum Fred |
| Narrandera | 13-Jul-25 | Narrandera Race Club | Narrandera Cup | 1600m | Hot Bandit | Prince Of Helena |
| Grafton | 13-Jul-25 | Clarence River Jockey Club | South Grafton Cup | 1600m | Boys Night Out | Vivy Air |
| Coffs Harbour | 1-Aug-25 | Coffs Harbour Racing Club | Coffs Harbour Cup | 1600m | Time Quest | It’s A Knockout |
| Forbes | 3-Aug-25 | Forbes Jockey Club | Forbes Cup | 1600m | Louie’s Legacy | Aimpoint |
| Murwillumbah | 28-Aug-25(Rescheduled date) | Tweed River Jockey Club | Murwillumbah Cup | 1550m | Cranky Harry | Super Duck |
| Goulburn | 24-Aug-25 | Goulburn & District Racing Club | Goulburn Cup | 1400m | Ruby Flyer | The Novelist |
| Wyong | 5-Sep-25 | Wyong Race Club | Wyong Cup | 2100m | Saltcoats | Salt Lake City |
| Bathurst | 14-Sep-25 | Bathurst Turf Club | Bathurst Cup | 1800m | Aix En Provence | Rajnish |
| Newcastle | 19-Sep-25 | Newcastle Jockey Club | Cameron Hcp | 1500m | Headley Grange | Vivy Air |
| Lismore | 25-Sep-25 | Lismore Turf Club | Lismore Cup | 2100m | Flywheel | Anythink Goes |
| Dubbo | 28-Sep-25 | City of Dubbo Turf Club | Dubbo Gold Cup | 1600m | Cristal Clear | Tavros |
| Port Macquarie | 10-Oct-25 | Port Macquarie Race Club | Port Macquarie Cup | 2000m | Age Of Sail | Belvedere Boys |
| Coonamble | 12-Oct-25 | Coonamble Jockey Club | Coonamble Cup | 1600m | Justadeel | Lockdown Gamble |
| Taree | 17-Oct-25 | Manning Valley Race Club | Taree Cup | 2000m | Imperialist | Barazin |
| Randwick | 25-Oct-25 | Australian Turf Club | Big Dance Wild Card | 1600m | Vivy Air | Swiftfalcon |
The Big Dance History
The Big Dance ran for the first time on Melbourne Cup Day 2022 at Randwick Racecourse and was won by Scone Cup winner Rustic Steel for Newcastle horseman Kris Lees and jockey Nash Rawiller.
The qualification process for the inaugural The Big Dance race in 2023 starts with the Goulburn Cup on October 30, 2022.
In 2024 The Big Dance became a Black-Type Australin horse race being upgraded to Listed status.
The Big Dance Winners
Previous The Big Dance winners going back to the race’s inauguration in 2022 are detailed below following the first edition on Melbourne Cup Day.
| YEAR | WINNER | 2ND | 3RD | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2024 | Gringotts | Vivy Air | Suparazi | 1 minute 34.43 seconds |
| 2023 | Attractable | Cepheus | Super Helpful | 1 minute 34.49 seconds |
| 2022 | Rustic Steel | Cisco Bay | Sibaaq | 1 minute 33.87 seconds |
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