The $3 million Big Dance race is a lucrative Listed feature run at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day each year.
2024 The Big Dance Results
- 1st: #4 Gringotts
- 2nd: #17 Vivy Air
- 3rd: #8 Suparazi
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.
2024 The Big Dance Results
- 1st: #4 Gringotts ($5)
- 2nd: #17 Vivy Air
- 3rd: #8 Suparazi
The Big Dance 2024 results went the way of Ciaron Maher’s Tamworth Cup winner Gringotts ($5) who overcame a wide barrier to sit on speed and hit the front on the straight in a perfectly timed ride by Tommy Berry. Holding in a fighting finish third-up and fit the galloper had a length to spare on stablemate Vivy Air to hand Maher the quinella in Tuesday’s $3 million Sydney feature race.
Click here for the full story.
The Big Dance 2024 Odds & Results
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
4. Gringotts (19)
J: Tommy Berry 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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2nd
17. Vivy Air (5)
J: Andrew Adkins 53kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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3rd
8. Suparazi (8)
J: Tim Clark 54kg
T: Ben Brisbourne |
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4th
12. Tavi Time (7)
J: Chad Schofield 53kg
T: Kris Lees |
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|
5th
11. Ducasse (15)
J: Regan Bayliss 53kg
T: Michael Freedman |
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6th
7. Redstone Well (10)
J: Tom Sherry 55.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
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7th
2. Detonator Jack (17)
J: Jason Collett 59.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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8th
5. Sky Lab (6)
J: Ashley Morgan 58.5kg
T: Paul Perry |
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9th
13. Overriding (16)
J: Jay Ford 53kg
T: Nathan Doyle |
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10th
1. Here To Shock (1)
J: Nash Rawiller 62kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
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11th
14. Cranky Harry (9)
J: Jake Bayliss 53kg
T: Matthew Dunn |
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12th
10. Floating (12)
J: Zac Wadick 53kg
T: Matthew Smith |
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13th
16. Green Shadows (20)
J: Alysha Collett 53kg
T: G Ryan & S Alexiou |
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14th
6. Hezashocka (2)
J: Dylan Gibbons 58kg
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
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15th
3. Lion's Roar (14)
J: Josh Parr 59kg
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton |
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16th
20. Money From The Sky (13)
J: Reece Jones 53kg
T: Sara Ryan |
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17th
18. Prince Of Helena (3)
J: Jake Duffy 53kg
T: Craig Weeding |
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18th
15. Sneak Preview (4)
J: Mathew Cahill 53kg
T: Peter Nestor |
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19th
9. Time Quest (11)
J: Christian Reith 54kg
T: Matthew Smith |
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20th
19. Zouatica (18)
J: Molly Bourke 53kg
T: B Joseph & P & M Jones |
Data retrieved: 21/11/2024 07:08:43 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
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.
For the 2024 The Big Dance field there are 28 Country Cups designated as qualifiers held during 2023/24.
The third edition of The Big Dance in 2024 ran on Tuesday November 5, 2024 at Royal Randwick as an official Listed event and was won in style third-up by the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts ($5).
| The Big Dance 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Tuesday November 5, 2024 |
| Track: | Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1600m |
| Race Type: | Quality Handicap – 3YOs & Upwards – Eligibility via runs in selected 28 Country Cup races annually |
| Status: | Listed |
| Prize Money: | $3 million |
2024 The Big Dance Finishing Order
The official The Big Dance 2024 race results and finishing order will be updated below following the inaugural running of the $3 million event this Melbourne Cup Day in Sydney.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | GRINGOTTS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Tommy Berry | 19 | 58.5kg | $5 | |||
| 2 | 17 | VIVY AIR | Ciaron Maher | Andrew Adkins | 0.85L | 5 | 53kg | $26 | ||
| 3 | 8 | SUPARAZI | Ben Brisbourne | Tim Clark | 1.71L | 8 | 54kg | $14 | ||
| 4 | 12 | TAVI TIME (NZ) | Kris Lees | Chad Schofield | 1.81L | 7 | 53kg | $3.50F | ||
| 5 | 11 | DUCASSE | Michael Freedman | Regan Bayliss | 1.85L | 15 | 53kg | $14 | ||
| 6 | 7 | REDSTONE WELL (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tom Sherry | 3.31L | 10 | 55.5kg | $21 | ||
| 7 | 2 | DETONATOR JACK (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Jason Collett | 4.05L | 17 | 59.5kg | $16 | ||
| 8 | 5 | SKY LAB | Paul Perry | Ashley Morgan | 4.19L | 6 | 58.5kg | $21 | ||
| 9 | 13 | OVERRIDING | Nathan Doyle | Jay Ford | 4.57L | 16 | 53kg | $61 | ||
| 10 | 1 | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Nash Rawiller | 4.88L | 1 | 62kg | $5 | ||
| 11 | 14 | CRANKY HARRY | Matthew Dunn | Jake Bayliss | 5.58L | 9 | 53kg | $41 | ||
| 12 | 10 | FLOATING | Matthew Smith | Zac Wadick (a) | 5.82L | 12 | 53kg | $31 | ||
| 13 | 16 | GREEN SHADOWS | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Ms Alysha Collett | 5.85L | 20 | 53kg | $101 | ||
| 14 | 6 | HEZASHOCKA (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Dylan Gibbons | 6.16L | 2 | 58kg | $71 | ||
| 15 | 3 | LION’S ROAR (NZ) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Joshua Parr | 6.49L | 14 | 59kg | $26 | ||
| 16 | 20 | MONEY FROM THE SKY | Sara Ryan | Reece Jones | 7.57L | 13 | 53kg | $101 | ||
| 17 | 18 | PRINCE OF HELENA | Craig Weeding | Jake Duffy | 7.82L | 3 | 53kg | $101 | ||
| 18 | 15 | SNEAK PREVIEW | Peter Nestor | Mathew Cahill | 9.43L | 4 | 53kg | $91 | ||
| 19 | 9 | TIME QUEST (GB) | Matthew Smith | Christian Reith | 9.44L | 11 | 54kg | $101 | ||
| 20 | 19 | ZOUATICA | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | Ms Molly Bourke (a) | 14.94L | 18 | 53kg | $101 | ||
| 23e | MAYFAIR SPIRIT (IRE) | Kris Lees | 0 | |||||||
| 24e | WINNING POINT | Paul Murray | 0 | |||||||
| 21e | SHARP SHOCK | Rodney Northam | 0 | |||||||
| 22e | LOCKDOWN GAMBLE | David J Smith | Ms Coriah Keatings (a) | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 The Big Dance Betting
The Big Dance 2024 betting odds and links to the latest prices at Ladbrokes.com.au are 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.
2024 The Big Dance Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 BIG DANCE FORM GUIDE
2024 The Big Dance Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Big Dance 2024 Tips on the $3 million event this Melbourne Cup Day.
- To Win: #12 Tavi Time ($5.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Big, open field of country horses taking to the Sydney track on Melbourne Cup Day but like the price on last start winner Tavi Time to make it back-to-back victories down in weight at his pet distance. This Kris Lees-trained Tavistock gelding carried 60kg over the mile at Warwick Farm in a BenchMark 88 last time out and will relish the drop back to just 53kg here. He has won four from five over 1600m, brings the confidence of that last start win in here and is drawn to get the run of the race from barrier nine. With a host of the dangers wider out and with more weight he can salute.
2024 The Big Dance Field
The confirmed The Big Dance 2024 field of eligible Country Cup performers is announced on the Friday prior to the race and will be published below once confirmed.
The 2024 The Big Dance final field features a bumper line-up of country gallopers led in betting by the 62kg topweight Here To Shock chasing a hat-trick after lead-up wins in the Cameron Handicap and Alan Brown.
Click here to read more on top runners in The Big Dance 2024 field and betting markets.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x31210x211 | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Nash Rawiller | 1 | 62kg | 111 | ||
| 2 | 7x3628x540 | DETONATOR JACK (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Jason Collett | 21 | 59.5kg | 106 | ||
| 3 | 1x737x7210 | LION’S ROAR (NZ) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Joshua Parr | 18 | 59kg | 105 | ||
| 4 | 313x111x22 | GRINGOTTS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Tommy Berry | 23 | 58.5kg | 104 | ||
| 5 | 063638x14x | SKY LAB | Paul Perry | Ashley Morgan | 8 | 58.5kg | 104 | ||
| 6 | x95317105x | HEZASHOCKA (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Dylan Gibbons | 3 | 58kg | 103 | ||
| 7 | 625×003171 | REDSTONE WELL (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tom Sherry | 13 | 55.5kg | 98 | ||
| 8 | 1382×23326 | SUPARAZI | Ben Brisbourne | Tim Clark | 10 | 54kg | 92 | ||
| 9 | 2364143103 | TIME QUEST (GB) | Matthew Smith | Christian Reith | 14 | 54kg | 85 | ||
| 10 | 21414×9514 | FLOATING | Matthew Smith | Zac Wadick (a) | 16 | 53kg | 91 | ||
| 11 | 87719×0971 | DUCASSE | Michael Freedman | Regan Bayliss | 19 | 53kg | 90 | ||
| 12 | 11x1256x61 | TAVI TIME (NZ) | Kris Lees | Chad Schofield | 9 | 53kg | 90 | ||
| 13 | x5144x6383 | OVERRIDING | Nathan Doyle | Jay Ford | 20 | 53kg | 89 | ||
| 14 | 3×51215182 | CRANKY HARRY | Matthew Dunn | Jake Bayliss | 12 | 53kg | 87 | ||
| 15 | 7055467014 | SNEAK PREVIEW | Peter Nestor | Mathew Cahill | 6 | 53kg | 86 | ||
| 16 | 1758417108 | GREEN SHADOWS | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Ms Alysha Collett | 24 | 53kg | 85 | ||
| 17 | x235x32482 | VIVY AIR | Ciaron Maher | Andrew Adkins | 7 | 53kg | 84 | ||
| 18 | x404417x53 | PRINCE OF HELENA | Craig Weeding | Jake Duffy | 5 | 53kg | 81 | ||
| 19 | 102130×619 | ZOUATICA | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | Ms Molly Bourke (a) | 22 | 53kg | 79 | ||
| 20 | 55x166x510 | MONEY FROM THE SKY | Sara Ryan | Reece Jones | 17 | 53kg | 78 | ||
| 21e | 2220×62011 | SHARP SHOCK | Rodney Northam | 4 | 54kg | 76 | |||
| 22e | 0x13D31x15 | LOCKDOWN GAMBLE | David J Smith | Ms Coriah Keatings (a) | 15 | 53kg | 72 | ||
| 23e | 4x35616x90 | MAYFAIR SPIRIT (IRE) | Kris Lees | 2 | 53kg | 71 | |||
| 24e | 9x35715x07 | WINNING POINT | Paul Murray | 11 | 54kg | 66 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 The Big Dance Nominations
Early The Big Dance 2024 nominations are updated following the official results from the qualifying races throughout the year.
2024 Big Dance Qualifying Races
| VENUE | DATE | CLUB | RACE | DIST | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goulburn | 5-Nov-23 | Goulburn & District Racing Club | Goulburn Cup | 1400m | Grebeni | Phearson |
| Gundagai | 17-Nov-23 | Gundagai-Adelong Race Club | Snake Gully Cup | 1400m | Superazi | Belleistic Kids |
| Taree | 19-Nov-23 | Manning Valley Race Club | Taree Cup | 2000m | Sound and Vision | Rogue Bear |
| Kembla Grange | 25-Nov-23 | Illawarra Turf Club | The Gong | 1600m | Detonator Jack | Loch Eagle |
| Mudgee | 1-Dec-23 | Mudgee Race Club | Mudgee Cup | 1600m | Tavi Time | Belleistic Kids |
| Armidale | 3-Dec-22 | Armidale Jockey Club | Armidale Cup | 1900m | Savvy Lad | Full Press |
| Nowra | 10-Dec-23 | Shoalhaven City Turf Club | Nowra Cup | 1600m | Floating | Peace Officer |
| Moruya | 8-Jan-24 | Moruya Jockey Club Inc | Moruya Cup | 1425m | Zouatica | Kokoro |
| Ballina | 25-Jan-24 | Ballina Jockey Club | Ballina Cup | 1590m | Without Revenge | Eaglemont |
| Sapphire Coast | 4-Feb-24 | Sapphire Coast Turf Club | Bega Cup | 1600m | Winning Point | Cream Rises |
| Albury | 22-Mar-24 | Albury Racing Club | Albury Gold Cup | 2000m | Fawkner Park | Regal Lion |
| Wellington | 14-Apr-24 | Wellington Race Club | Wellington Cup | 1700m | Lockdown Gamble | Danish Prince |
| Muswellbrook (Meeting abandoned) | 5-Apr-24 | Muswellbrook Race Club | Muswellbrook Gold Cup | 1500m | – | – |
| Orange | 19-Apr-24 | Racing Orange Ltd | Orange Gold Cup | 2100m | Piraeus | Our Orator |
| Tamworth | 26-Apr-24 | Tamworth Jockey Club | Tamworth Cup | 1400m | Gringotts | Kinloch |
| Wagga Wagga | 3-May-24 | Murrumbidgee Turf Club | Wagga Wagga Gold Cup | 2000m | Fawkner Park | Political Debate |
| Hawkesbury | 4-May-24 | Hawkesbury Race Club | Hawkesbury Cup | 1600m | Just Folk | Detonator Jack |
| Gosford | 11-May-24 | Gosford Race Club | Gosford Gold Cup | 2100m | Hezashocka | Sir Lucan |
| Scone | 17-May-24 | Scone Race Club | Scone Cup | 1600m | Sky Lab | Waterford |
| Gunnedah | 26-May-24 | Gunnedah Jockey Club | Gunnedah Cup | 1600m | Mayfair Spirit | Russley Crown |
| Narrandera | 7-Jul-24 | Narrandera Race Club | Narrandera Cup | 1600m | Prince Of Helena | One Aye |
| Grafton | 14-Jul-24 | Clarence River Jockey Club | South Grafton Cup | 1600m | Estadio Mestalla | |
| Coffs Harbour | 2-Aug-24 | Coffs Harbour Racing Club | Coffs Harbour Cup | 1600m | Time Quest | Charterhouse |
| Forbes | 4-Aug-24 | Forbes Jockey Club | Forbes Cup | 1600m | Osman | Just A Brother |
| Murwillumbah | 23-Aug-24 | Tweed River Jockey Club | Murwillumbah Cup | 1550m | Cranky Harry | Crazy Train |
| Wyong | 6-Sep-24 | Wyong Race Club | Wyong Cup | 2100m | Lion’s Roar | Luncies |
| Bathurst | 15-Sep-24 | Bathurst Turf Club | Bathurst Cup | 1800m | Money From The Sky | Jamberoo |
| Newcastle | 20-Sep-24 | Newcastle | Cameron Handicap | 1500m | Here To Shock | Matcha Latte |
| Lismore(Meeting abandoned) | 26-Sep-24 | Lismore Turf Club | Lismore Cup | 2100m | – | – |
| Dubbo | 29-Sep-24 | City of Dubbo Turf Club | Dubbo Gold Cup | 1600m | Sneak Preview | High Dandy |
| Port Macquarie | 11-Oct-24 | Port Macquarie Race Club | Port Macquarie Cup | 2000m | Redstone Well | Twigman |
| Coonamble | 13-Oct-24 | Coonamble Jockey Club | Coonamble Cup | 1600m | Sharp Shock | Ravello |
| Randwick | 26-Oct-24 | Australian Turf Club | Big Dance Wild Card | 1600m | Ducasse | Vivy Air |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Race comments
TAVI TIME (12) classy miler who gave them a galloping lesson second up with the 60kg when a comfortable winner over this trip at Warwick Farm on October 16. Sits on the limit from the right gate and can finish over the top of these with the winkers going on. HERE TO SHOCK (1) tough gelding racing in career best form in stronger company. Chasing his third straight victory after defeating a classy line-up when taking out the Alan Brown Stakes over 1400m at Rosehill on October 12. Maps well with the 62kg and is sure to figure prominently. SUPARAZI (8) consistent Wangaratta-trained gelding with a good record over the mile. Motored late from the wide gate when sixth in the G2 Crystl Mile at Moonee Valley on October 26. Each way player. DETONATOR JACK (2) proven miler who was a total forgive from the wide draw when a poor 20th in the G1 Epsom Handicap at this track on October 5. Similar setup here but will find this grade much easier. The chances don't end there.