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The Big Dance is one of Australian racing's great stories — a $3 million mile (1,600m) at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, created by Racing NSW to reward country and provincial horses that win their way in through a series of NSW Country Cups. Run the same afternoon as the Melbourne Cup, it returns in November 2026.
Gringotts has won the last two editions for Ciaron Maher. Below: the race details, how qualifying works, recent winners, betting angles and where to watch. See also our Sydney Spring Racing Carnival hub.
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The Big Dance — Race Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Race | The Big Dance (Listed) |
| Distance | 1,600m |
| Venue | Royal Randwick, Sydney |
| When | Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday of November) |
| Prize money | $3 million |
| Eligibility | NSW Country Cup qualifiers + Wild Card |
The Big Dance — Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Gringotts | Ciaron Maher |
| 2024 | Gringotts | Ciaron Maher |
| 2023 | Attractable | — |
| 2022 | Rustic Steel | Kris Lees |
How Horses Qualify for The Big Dance
The Big Dance is a qualifying-series race, not a set-weights handicap you can simply enter. Through the year, the winner and runner-up of a list of selected NSW Country Cups earn a place in the field. A Big Dance Wild Card run at Royal Randwick in early October provides two further exempt starters. It turns a country-cup campaign into a genuine path to a $3 million payday at headquarters on the biggest raceday of the year — and gives punters a season-long form line to follow into November.
The Big Dance Betting Angles
- Follow the qualifying form. The Country Cup winners arrive in-form and race-fit; the strongest recent cup form is the core of the market.
- Respect the big stables. Ciaron Maher’s Gringotts double shows the metropolitan yards target this race hard — a country-qualified runner from a powerful stable is dangerous.
- Each-way value. Big, evenly-matched fields on Cup Day make the each-way and exotics markets pay.
How to Watch The Big Dance in Australia
The Big Dance is shown on Sky Racing and Racing.com, with Melbourne Cup Day also carried free-to-air — a rare chance to see a country-bred star on the national stage.
Best Bookmakers for the The Big Dance
For a full comparison of the top Australian racing bookmakers and their best sign-up offers, see our best horse racing betting sites in Australia guide, or take advantage of the top bookmaker deals below.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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The Big Dance FAQs
What is The Big Dance?
The Big Dance is a $3 million mile (1,600m) run at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day. Introduced by Racing NSW in 2022 and now a Listed race, it rewards horses that have run in a series of NSW Country Cups through the year.
When and where is The Big Dance run?
At Royal Randwick in Sydney on Melbourne Cup Day — the first Tuesday in November — the same afternoon as the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. The next running is in November 2026.
How do horses qualify for The Big Dance?
Eligibility is earned on the track: the winner and runner-up of selected NSW Country Cups qualify, and a Big Dance Wild Card at Royal Randwick in early October offers two more places exempt from the ballot.
How much is The Big Dance worth?
$3 million, an enormous prize for the country-and-provincial horses the race is designed to reward.
Who has won The Big Dance?
Gringotts won back-to-back editions in 2024 and 2025 for trainer Ciaron Maher. Attractable won in 2023 and Rustic Steel took the inaugural running in 2022.
More Racing Coverage
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