The Big Dance runs in Sydney on the same as Victoria’s iconic Melbourne Cup Day card!
The fourth edition of The Big Dance runs on Tuesday November 4, 2025 at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day offering $3 million in stakes.
2025 The Big Dance Odds
The latest The Big Dance 2025 betting odds including pre-nomination futures markets on one of the seven-figure Sydney Spring Racing Carnival features will be provided below as soon as available.
| 1. Gringotts (4) J: Nash Rawiller 62kg 10x52T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 4. Vivy Air (16) J: Andrew Adkins 54.5kg 22x21T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Lugh (17) J: Regan Bayliss 53kg x4131T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 16. Justadeel (1) J: Tyler Schiller 53kg x2131T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 10. Matusalem (9) J: Zac Lloyd 53kg 13x40T: Chris Waller | ||
| 11. Cristal Clear (13) J: Braith Nock 53kg 11126T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 12. Lord Of Biscay (5) J: Dylan Gibbons 53kg 2x363T: Kris Lees | ||
| 3. Tavi Time (7) J: Jay Ford 57kg 12x45T: Kris Lees | ||
| 6. Ruby Flyer (11) J: Jason Collett 54kg 91902T: Brad Widdup | ||
| 2. Headley Grange (14) J: Adam Hyeronimus 61kg 16111T: Joseph Pride | ||
| 14. Cranky Harry (10) J: Alysha Collett 53kg 02614T: Matthew Dunn | ||
| 13. Time Quest (6) J: Ashley Morgan 53kg 70143T: Matthew Smith | ||
| 15. Boys Night Out (18) J: Jake Bayliss 53kg 111x7T: Matthew Dunn | ||
| 7. Lavish Empire (2) J: Tom Sherry 54kg 00x20T: Peter Snowden | ||
| 5. Les Vampires (8) J: Winona Costin 54kg 11x05T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 19. Hot Bandit (12) J: Louise Day 53kg 1x893T: Luke Pepper | ||
| 18. Aix En Provence (19) J: Dean Yendall 53kg 85411T: Nacim Dilmi | ||
| 17. Super Helpful (20) J: Reece Jones 53kg 89534T: B Joseph & P & M Jones | ||
| 20. Louie's Legacy (15) J: Anna Roper 53kg 31764T: B Joseph & P & M Jones | ||
| 22. Ring Ahoy (3) J: Siena Grima 53kg 074x4T: David Hatch |
The Big Dance Tips
Top The Big Dance racing tips include looking for the winners of the standout lead-up Country Cup races, proven milers and those from Sydney’s premier stables.
2025 The Big Dance Tips
Our expert team of tipsters will provide the 2025 The Big Dance betting tips below closer to the day so stay tuned for the milers to back and sack this spring.
Each Way: No. 11 Cristal Clear
CRISTAL CLEAR (15) may be drawn wide in the Big Dance, but this consistent Exceedance four-year-old from the Archibald stable shapes as outstanding Each Way value in the $3 million Sydney feature on Cup Day.
He strung together three straight wins earlier this prep, including a tough Dubbo Cup victory carrying 59kg.
Last start, he was narrowly beaten over the mile at Warwick Farm after giving away significant weight to the winner.
On Tuesday, he drops sharply to just 53kg, which should see him flying late.
Apprentice Braith Nock retains the ride and knows the horse well, having built a strong partnership.
With a solid record over the distance (6:3-1-0) and proven toughness, Cristal Clear will need luck from the draw but is more than capable of pushing into the Top 3 against a quality field that includes reigning champ and Group 1 winner GRINGOTTS.
|
11. Cristal Clear (13)
J: Braith Nock 53kg
11126T: Annabel & Rob Archibald
|
The Big Dance is a $3 million event run and won at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse on the first Tuesday of November that gained Listed status in 2024.
It was announced at the same time as the $2 million The Five Diamonds (1600m), a race open only to five-year-olds that will run at Rosehill on the Saturday after Sydney’s The Big Dance Day.
The Big Dance prize money for the opening edition in 2022 was $2 million before being boosted to $3 million for the second running in 2023.
Contested on the same date as Flemington’s famous Melbourne Cup race, The Big Dance takes place over 1600m and is a quality handicap event with a 62kg maximum weight.
A spot in The Big Dance field is restricted to horses contesting one of the selected Country Cups throughout the year.
For the 2025 The Big Dance field there are 32 Country Cups designated as qualifiers held during 2024/25.
The Big Dance Info
- Date: Tuesday November 4, 2025
- Track: Randwick Racecourse
- Distance: 1600m
- Conditions: 3YOs & Upwards – Quality Handicap
- Other Conditions: Restricted to horses contesting one 32 selected Country Cups
- Status: Listed
- Prize Money: $3 million
- First Run: 2022
2025 The Big Dance Results
The 2025 The Big Dance Results & Finishing Order will be available below once the first edition of the $3 million race is run and won on Tuesday November 4, 2025.
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
The Big Dance Betting
The Big Dance betting markets are led by in-form Country Cups horses, especially those to have won one or more of the specified races marking their eligibility to contest the $3 million showdown.
Any runners proven in the big city with previous winning form at the Randwick track, and those with a strong strike-rate over the 1600m distance sit higher up The Big Dance odds for the spring.
The first and second place-getters out of The Big Dance Wild Card event on The Everest Day are also sure to feature highly in The Big Dance markets each season.
Gallopers proven in tougher grade, Black-Type events are also set to dominate betting on The Big Dance race, especially those that ran well over the winter prior in races like the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) – which is one of the official qualifying races – in May and Rosehill’s Listed W.J. McKell Cup (2000m).
In 2022 Rustic Steel – at generous Big Dance odds of $12 – became the first horse to complete the Scone Cup – Big Dance double.
There was another upset in 2023 with Attractable saluting at $19.
The Big Dance Field
The Big Dance race field features the season’s top performing Country Cup horses from mainly local Sydney-based stables and has a capacity of 20 starters.
The Big Dance field is restricted to the official winners and second placed horses of qualifying races, as specified by Racing NSW.
Some of the more notable qualifying races for The Big Dance field include the Scone Cup and Wagga Wagga Gold Cup.
Horses may contest multiple The Big Dance qualifying races, even if they have won an earlier qualifier.
Runners will also get a chance to earn a spot in The Big Dance field via The Big Dance Wild Card race run over the Randwick mile on The Everest Day in mid-October. The Big Dance Wild Card race will be open to any horse that has contested one of the qualifying races, without winning a qualifying race. The first and second placed horses from the race will qualify for the Big Dance.
A new lead-up into The Big Dance field where the form is tipped to hold up on the first Tuesday of November is the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill won for the first time in 2023 by the ill-fated Cepheus.
Cepheus went on to carry the hefty 62kg top-weight in the 2023 Big Dance field and went down as the beaten favourite behind upset winner Attractable who came off a lead-up fourth in the Alan Brown Stakes. The much-loved warhorse would sadly pass away having to be euthanised after a trackwork incident the following spring.
Gringotts (2nd in 2024) was the last Alan Brown Stakes graduate to improve and win The Big Dance.
2025 The Big Dance Field
The official The Big Dance 2025 field and barriers will be announced the week of the race and published in full below.
The Big Dance 2025 final acceptances close at 9am on the Friday prior to the race.
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.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Gringotts
J: Nash Rawiller
T: Ciaron Maher |
310x52 | G | 4 | 62kg | |
|
2. Headley Grange
J: Adam Hyeronimus
T: Joseph Pride |
116111 | G | 14 | 61kg | |
|
3. Tavi Time
J: Jay Ford
T: Kris Lees |
512x45 | G | 7 | 57kg | |
|
4. Vivy Air
J: Andrew Adkins
T: Ciaron Maher |
522x21 | M | 16 | 54.5kg | |
|
5. Les Vampires
J: Winona Costin
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
411x05 | G | 8 | 54kg | |
|
6. Ruby Flyer
J: Jason Collett
T: Brad Widdup |
091902 | G | 11 | 54kg | |
|
7. Lavish Empire
J: Tom Sherry
T: Peter Snowden |
100x20 | G | 2 | 54kg | |
|
8. Lugh
J: Regan Bayliss
T: Ciaron Maher |
1x4131 | G | 17 | 53kg | |
| 9. Flywheel (22) Scratched: | |||||
|
10. Matusalem
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Chris Waller |
813x40 | G | 9 | 53kg | |
|
11. Cristal Clear
J: Braith Nock
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
411126 | G | 13 | 53kg | |
|
12. Lord Of Biscay
J: Dylan Gibbons
T: Kris Lees |
22x363 | G | 5 | 53kg | |
|
13. Time Quest
J: Ashley Morgan
T: Matthew Smith |
x70143 | G | 6 | 53kg | |
|
14. Cranky Harry
J: Alysha Collett
T: Matthew Dunn |
502614 | G | 10 | 53kg | |
|
15. Boys Night Out
J: Jake Bayliss
T: Matthew Dunn |
2111x7 | G | 18 | 53kg | |
|
16. Justadeel
J: Tyler Schiller
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
1x2131 | G | 1 | 53kg | |
|
17. Super Helpful
J: Reece Jones
T: B Joseph & P & M Jones |
089534 | G | 20 | 53kg | |
|
18. Aix En Provence
J: Dean Yendall
T: Nacim Dilmi |
485411 | G | 19 | 53kg | |
|
19. Hot Bandit
J: Louise Day
T: Luke Pepper |
21x893 | G | 12 | 53kg | |
|
20. Louie's Legacy
J: Anna Roper
T: B Joseph & P & M Jones |
231764 | G | 15 | 53kg | |
2025 The Big Dance Nominations
Early The Big Dance 2025 nominations will be detailed below once confirmed.
Horses will automatically feature in The Big Dance nominations based on the results of the 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
| Venue | Date | Club | Race | Distance | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Rooso |
| 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 Form Guide
The Big Dance race form guide lists the full line-up of runners, their connections (owner / jockey / trainer) that stand to win one of Australian racing’s newest prizes and gives a rundown on their lead-up form / career statistics.
The Big Dance form was franked in 2023 with the surprise champion Attractable running second the following month in the $2 million Group 2 The Ingham (1600m).
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.
2025 The Big Dance Form
A link to our detailed The Big Dance 2025 form guide will be available below the week leading-up to the $3 million mile event at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.
The Big Dance Bet Types
Win – The most basic type of bet. Put your money straight up on the runner that you think will win The Big Dance.
Place – Pick the horse that you think will finish in the top three positions but at lower odds.
Each-Way – Put equal amounts on a horse for the win and a place, the equivalent of two bets and you get paid out for both if it wins.
Quinella – Bet on the horses you think will finish first and second in either order. You can also pick for example one horse to finish 1st and then a combination. The fewer horses you pick the greater the dividend.
Exacta – An exacta also involves choosing horses that you think will finish first and second but it differs from a quinella in that it has to be the exact order you specify in the bet.
Trifecta – Very similar to an Exacta, but for the first, second and third placings in the correct finishing order. You can also Box Trifecta to finish in any of the first 3 combinations.
First Four – A First Four bet works the same as an Exacta and Trifecta but for the first four runners in finishing order.
The Big Dance Results
The Big Dance race results from Sydney are available on the first Tuesday of November each year.
The very first Big Dance winner was the Kris Lees-trained Rustic Steel at $12.
The second The Big Dance winner was $19 pop Attractable prepared by Sara Ryan.
The third The Big Dance winner was $5 shot Gringotts trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Tommy Berry.
Past The Big Dance Winners
Past The Big Dance winners and placegetters dating back to the race’s inauguration in 2022 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2024 | Gringotts | Vivy Air | Suparazi | 1:34.43 |
| 2023 | Attractable | Cepheus | Super Helpful | 1:34.49 |
| 2022 | Rustic Steel | Cisco Bay | Sibaaq | 1:33.87 |
FAQ
When is The Big Dance 2025?
Tuesday November 4, 2025What is the prize money for The Big Dance 2025?
$3,000,000
Where is The Big Dance 2025?
Randwick Racecourse, Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031.
How do I bet on the 2025 The Big Dance?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2025 The Big Dance?
The best way to pick which horse will win The Big Dance is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.