While Melbourne Cup Day takes centre stage at Flemington, an exciting ten-race program makes up 2026 Big Dance Day, and we’ll be treated to some great betting races at Royal Randwick.
Two-time winner Gringotts heads the Big Dance field once again but faces a stern challenge from the progressive Formal Display, while Perfumist, Magnatear and Cavalry Man are among the other runners capable of making their presence felt.
Read on for my complete Randwick best bets, including my 2026 Big Dance tips!
CABBUCIO (2) looks well placed in the first on The Big Dance Day.
Cabbucio is yet to strike in three runs back from a break, but she’s also yet to miss the placings, and she was last seen finishing off well for third in a similar race here at Randwick.
She’s been kept up to the mark with a recent trial and gets into this race well under the conditions.
| 10. Cabbucio (2) 52.5kg1×223 | |||
| Racing well recently. Comes here off a 31-day let-up. Most recently 3rd of 12 in a Midway Bm72 at this track on October 3 over 1800m, slow going long-neck behind Philatelic carrying 51kg at $9.50. The run before that raced on speed throughout when 2nd of 11 in a Bm64 at Kembla Grange on September 12 over 1600m, long-neck behind Tom Cruising carrying 58.5kg at $2.50. Progressive mare with genuine claims. | |||
STAR OF LILY (11) chases a hat-trick on The Big Dance Day.
Star Of Lily returned to action with a fine performance to win easily at Moruya and backed it up in a stronger race at Wagga last time out.
This is another rise in class, but she’s open to further improvement and is another one that is treated well at the weights.
| 12. Star Of Lily (10) 52.5kg95×11 | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming won by 2.25 len in a Ctry Cl1 at Moruya on October 2 over 1010m on a soft track defeating Melodia Perfecta with 55kg at $2.35. Second-up tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by a nose in a Bm66 at Wagga on October 17 over 1000m defeating Pietro Road carrying 55kg at $3.50. Deserves her chance here, each way player. | |||
ALABAMA SHOWDOWN (3) takes winning form into this contest.
The Joe Pride-trained gelding is yet to finish worse than second in four runs back from a break, winning twice, including an eye-catching performance over 1200m at Nowra last time out.
That effort suggested the small rise in trip this week would suit and in peak order, he is well and truly over the odds at his opening quote ($26) in my opinion.
| 7. Alabama Showdown (3) 60.5kgx2121 | |||
| At the latest run favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by a long-neck in a Bm66 at Nowra on October 18 over 1200m on a rain affected track defeating Zoukerino with 58.5kg at $1.85. Before that 2nd of 8 in a Cg&E Bm64 at Hawkesbury on October 8 over 1100m, 1.75 len behind Youre Not The King carrying 58.5kg at $16. Form okay but prepared to risk. | |||
I’m keen to give GALLANT STAR (6) another chance when he steps out in the fourth on The Big Dance Day.
Gallant Star has always been an above-average country-trained horse, winning the Barn Dance on this day last year, while also finishing the runner up in a Kosciuszko and a Country Championship Final here at Randwick most notably.
He was too far back but hit the line fairly in this year’s Kosciuszko when resuming a couple of weeks ago, and with the benefit of that run under his belt and dropping in arguably a weaker race, I think he can have an impact.
| 1. Gallant Star (6) 57.5kg969×9 | |||
| Second run back. First-up after four months 9th of 14 in a The Kosciuszko at this track on October 17 over 1200m, slow going 4.5 len behind Chains Of Love carrying 57.5kg at $14. Previously second-up 6th of 13 in the LR Luskin Star Stakes at Scone on May 16 over 1300m, 3 len behind Sun God with 54kg at $31. Don’t dismiss with the claim second up. | |||
Can GRINGOTTS (9) do it for a third time in the Big Dance this year? I think so.
Clearly, he’s the class horse engaged in this Big Dance field again, and Gringotts has won races like The Gong and the Group 1 George Ryder to go with his two lucrative victories in this contest.
While yet to strike and arguably, while yet to show his best form through three starts this time in, he steps out on Tuesday afternoon a fit horse, he’s proven, and he’s the one for me again.
| 1. Gringotts (9) 62kg4×357 | |||
| Last start 7th of 15 in the G3 Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill on October 10 over 1400m, 1.75 len behind Formal Display carrying 61kg at $8. The race before that ran last in a small field in the G2 7 Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1600m, 2 len behind Autumn Glow with 59kg at $12. Well placed. Won this race the last two year’s, respect from the wide draw. | |||
SO YOU PENCE (7) is second up into the Barn Dance field and open to plenty of improvement.
She’s proven to be a good horse for the Matt Dale yard through just eleven career starts so far, winning five times and placing a further four, finding form around some good city grade horses through.
Her fresh run for third, beaten a length in the Kosciuszko, would be good enough to see her winning this, and she should only improve for that hit-out.
| 3. So You Pence (7)SCRATCHED: | |||
I’MINTOWIN (6) looks to find the right race in Tuesday’s Barn Dance.
While yet to strike in three runs back from a break, I’Mintown was only just denied in BM100 company at Rosehill when resuming before again finishing the runner up in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap.
Having finished on the placegetters’ over this route at his latest start, he’s been freshened and sent back to the trials, and is drawn perfectly under Regan Bayliss.
| 2. I’Mintowin (6) 56kg0x224 | |||
| Racing well recently. Comes off a 31 day let-up. At the latest run raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 17 in a Bm94 at this track on October 3 over 1600m, slow going 3.5 len behind Unleeshing with 59.5kg at $14. The race before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 2nd of 10 in the G3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on September 18 over 1500m, 1.2 len behind Fully Lit carrying 54.5kg at $6.50. Looks ready to return to form after the slick tick over trial win. | |||
POLYGLOT (3) steps out on Tuesday fit and firing.
The son of Lonhro has turned in several pleasing performances in recent months, winning two of his last four starts and filling the minors on the other two occasions, all in Saturday metro company in both Sydney and Brisbane.
He boasts a fitness edge over several key rivals, he’s down in the weights and well placed un something like this.
| 9. Polyglot (3) 55kg81313 | |||
| Form hard to fault. Comes off a 31 day let-up. At the latest run ran on from midfield; 3rd of 10 in a Hcp at Eagle Farm on October 3 over 1000m, 1.1 len behind Moulin Miss with 55kg at $7. Before that ran on from midfield and won by a long-neck in a Hcp at Doomben on September 12 over 1110m defeating Epic Proportions carrying 54kg at $3.90. Comes back from Queensland and looms as a threat. | |||
COMPENSATION (9) returns to action in a winnable race on Big Dance Day.
Compensation hasn’t been seen at the races since May, but he was nearly faultless during his debut prep, filling the minors on debut before reeling off three-consecutive races in progressively stronger company.
Having trialled up well, he was scratched from the last on Golden Eagle Day to instead take his place here, and he gets some relief in the weights as well.
| 4. Compensation (9) 54.5kg3111x | |||
| Resuming after a six months break. Not seen since winning won by 0.6 len Gosford Bm78 May 9 over 1000m defeating Stratafy carrying 55.5kg at $1.95. On debut third of 8 at Warwick Farm Super Mdn-Sw March 11 over 1100m, soft track; 2.5 len behind Castlejohn carrying 58.5kg at $1.75. Heading in the right direction and looks to have returned even stronger with the two trials. | |||
THEBLADE (2) is third up into the last on Big Dance Day and looks well placed to strike.
Having returned to action with an eye-catching performance to beat some well-credentialled rivals in a BM88 sprint at Rosehill in September, Theblade has been kept since finishing fourth, beaten a length in a strong race in early October.
Though charged with carrying topweight, he’s drawn nice and low and should get his chance under Tyler Schiller.
| 1. Theblade (2) 61.5kg71×14 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 2 len in a Bm88 at Rosehill on September 12 over 1200m defeating Eagle Express carrying 55.5kg at $8.50. Second run from a spell sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 14 in a Bm94 at this track on October 3 over 1200m, slow going 1.3 len behind Wanaruah with 55.5kg at $4.40. Looks set for another big run. | |||