2025 Big Dance Day Preview

NATOYA comes off a dominant victory over the mile at Newcastle, and she looks well suited here with the rise to 1800m.

It was the third start on Australian soil for the daughter of Redwood, who had kicked off her career in New Zealand.

She showed plenty of promise in four starts in her homeland before making her way to John Sargent’s stable and she’s pleased in all three outings here.

Jason Collett will steer from gate seven and any moisture in the track will only enhance her chances.

PETTICOAT has been excellent in both of her runs this preparation and she looks well placed to get another win on the board.

The Better Than Ready mare proved too good when resuming over this course and distance in September, racing up on speed showing plenty of heart to hold out the challengers and score by over half a length.

She then headed to Brisbane where she bumped into a smart one over the 1000m at Eagle Farm and beaten only a head, she held a three-length margin back to the rest.

Proven on soft tracks, she draws to get the right run and Anna Roper’s 2kg claim sees her in well at the weights.

CARBONADOS returns to the races.

The Lindsay Park trained gelding boasts an excellent first up record and he looks ready to go off two pleasing jump out performances.

A five-time winner, he knows how to get the job done and he looks ideally placed here kicking off at 1200m.

Nash Rawiller will do the steering and with the low draw, he’ll be afforded every chance.

BLUE WILLOW kicks off her campaign.

Now under the care of Ciaron Maher, Godolphin’s Blue Point mare has shown talent in her four career starts and she looks very progressive.

Placed at her first two outings, she then recorded a dominant three length victory in heavy conditions at Newcastle.

Slowly away over 1550m at Canterbury, she settled at the tail and closed off strongly into second.

She returns here off an encouraging trial performance and the 1300m first up, looks ideal.

JUSTADEEL comes off a Coonamble Cup win, and I think he can measure up here in the 2025 The Big Dance.

The son of Dundeel has put together a very tidy record and he looks likely to continue his rise through the grades.

After spending a lengthy stint on the sidelines, he made his return over 1300m on the Sandown Hillside, where he was beaten by only the barest of margins.

With the added fitness, he proved too good at his following outing and was solid when stepping up in grade off a five week freshen up, at his third run back.

Lightly raced, he’s doing everything right and he’s unbeaten in two starts over the mile.

He drops 6.5kgs on that Coonamble Cup win and the inside draw can see him settle in a prominent position under Tyler Schiller.

SO YOU PENCE comes off a gallant performance in The Kosciuszko, and I think she’ll relish stepping out over that bit further here.

Settling back in the three wide line, the So You Think mare travelled well throughout and worked home strongly to finish less than two lengths away in fifth.

Lightly raced, she’s recorded three wins and three second placings from her eight career starts and a couple of those victories have been dominant.

At her third run back, she presents at peak fitness and draws to enjoy a soft run in transit under Ash Morgan.

HOLLYWOOD HERO comes off a very encouraging first up effort over 1400m here and he will have taken plenty of improvement from the run.

From a wide gate, he got back but was never closer than three deep and till finished off strongly into sixth.

Not a noted first up performer, the son of Sacred Falls boasts a solid second up record and he excels over the mile.

He drops 3kgs on that first up outing and he’ll relish getting onto a track with plenty of give.

ACCREDITED returns to the races.

The Joe Pride trained son of All Too Hard has worked through his grades with relative ease, recording seven wins from his nineteen starts and he boasts a strong first up record.

He was in top form last campaign, saluting over 1200m here before placing in both the Listed Winter Stakes and Winter Challenge Stakes.

Given just the one 805m trial, he looks primed to fire over the 1100m and gate two will see him afforded all the favours under Jason Collett.

It’s been a long time between drinks for KINTYRE but he’s sure to appreciate the sharp drop back in grade.

He blew the start when resuming here in the Bill Ritchie and was just okay second up in the Listed Weekend Hustler at Caulfield.

Last start he contested the Filante, he was three wide without cover throughout and just felt the pinch late.

A dual stakes winner, the son of Hallowed Crown is certainly capable, and he should find this easier than what he’s been contesting.

He’s fit, he draws to get the gun run and gets in nicely with Molly Burke’s 3kg claim.

SUNRISE did it tough when resuming over 1100m at Rosehill, but she will have taken good benefit from the outing.

Kicking off in a BM78 Handicap, the Charm Spirit mare was always wide and exposed throughout and it tolled late.

She trialled exceptionally well prior to her return and with the slight drop back in trip and added fitness, I think we’ll see much improved performance from her here.

She put the writing on the wall last campaign, with back-to-back wins in dominant fashion and she runs up to her best, she’ll be hard to beat.

Anna Roper takes over the steering, and her claim will see the mare carry just 53kgs.