Looking to find your groove and have a bet on the $3 million Big Dance at Royal Randwick on Tuesday?
The 1600 metre feature offers $3 million in prize money and the barriers will let fly at 2.20pm which is race five on the Randwick program.
The race is the newest event on Sydney’s hugely successful revamped spring carnival, first run in 2022 when won by the Kris Lees-trained Rustic Steel.
Last year, it was taken out by the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts which on Tuesday will aim to become the first back-to-back winner of the lucrative race.
Here is our five-minute guide to Tuesday’s showpiece race over the famous Randwick mile.
FIELDS AND FORM FOR BIG DANCE DAY AT ROYAL RANDWICK
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WHO ARE THIS YEAR’S BIG DANCE FAVOURITES?
It’s the horses that sit atop of the weights that are commanding most of the attention for Tuesday’s Big Dance.
Defending champion Gringotts is the favourite but he’ll need to carry a whopping 62 kilos if he is to claim the race for a second time.
Headley Grange has become a winning machine for trainer Joe Pride and he is being well supported to continue his insatiable stretch of form while Tavi Time, fourth in the race last year, has his admirers also.
Also in the market is the talented Vivy Air which will be out to turn the tables on stablemate Gringotts after finishing runner-up last year.
READ: Davo and ‘The Mock’ take a light hearted look at The 2025 Big Dance
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WHO IS THE BEST ROUGHIE?
If you’re looking to steer clear of the Big Dance chances under double figure odds, Clinton Payne thinks he’s found one in the shape of Justadeel.
“The Hayes boys of Lindsay Park fame took this gelding on a 1700km, or 18 hour round trip to Coonamble to Big Dance qualify him and he did the job in the Cup over 1600m on October 12 and now drops 6.5kg.
“Prior to his last start he wasn’t disgraced behind the highly regarded King Zephyr, which was favourite in a 1400m Group 2 at Flemington on Saturday before being scratched. Proven at the mile and progressive. Also drawn to get all the favours.
“His form says he’s the pick of the lightweights in the race – can win.”
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WHO ARE THE BEST JOCKEYS IN THE BIG DANCE?
While some of the sport’s top jockeys will be at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup, there is no shortage of firepower at Royal Randwick either.
Champion jockey Nash Rawiller will guide Gringotts for his Big Dance defence while the likes of Adam Hyeronimus, Jay Ford, Jason Collett and young guns Zac Lloyd and Tyler Schiller also have strong books.
Looking for a female flavour in the Big Dance?
Winona Costin will be aboard Les Vampires for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, while Alysha Collett will look to boot home Cranky Harry at monster odds.
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AFTER EXPERT TIPS?
News Corp’s Sydney racing team have poured over the form to help you find the winner of the Big Dance.
ADAM DOBBIN
1st – Gringotts (No. 1)
2nd – Headley Grange (No. 2)
3rd – Tavi Time (No. 3)
Bet: Headley Grange (win)
CLINTON PAYNE
1st – Justadeel (No. 16)
2nd – Gringotts (No. 1)
3rd – Headley Grange (No. 2)
Bet – Justadeel (each-way)
JETT HATTON
1st – Gringotts (No. 1)
2nd – Headley Grange (No. 2)
3rd – Les Vampires (No. 5)
Bet – Gringotts (win)
MITCH COHEN
1st – Lord Of Biscay (No. 12)
2nd – Headley Grange (No. 2)
3rd – Gringotts (No. 1)
Bet – Lord Of Biscay (each-way)
RAY THOMAS
1st – Headley Grange (No. 2)
2nd – Tavi Time (No. 3)
3rd – Gringotts (No. 1)
Bet – Headley Grange (each-way)
SHAYNE O’CASS
1st – Tavi Time (No. 2)
2nd – Gringotts (No. 1)
3rd – Headley Grange (No. 2)
Bet – Tavi Time (win)
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SO WHO ARE WE BACKING?
We can’t go past Gringotts.
He’s proven himself the class runner and while he’ll carry half of the Randwick Grandstand on his back, he’s earned every bit of it in his bid to go back-to-back.
Ticks all the boxes to create a slice of history and waltz his way to a second Big Dance success.
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WHERE CAN YOU HAVE A BET?
Tabs, pubs and clubs will be open nice and early for the huge day of racing but if you’re playing from home, opening an online account is the most seamless way to partake in the day.
There are a lot of bookies out there. It can be difficult to understand which one is best for you. But don’t worry, the team at Punters has spent lots of time comparing and analysing all the major bookies.
They had to crunch a lot of data and stats but the good news for you is that it’s all displayed in a nice table. Check it out here.
