2022 Big Dance Day Tips & Preview
Cisco Bay will contest the Civic Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart

2022 Big Dance Day Tips & Preview

We’re set for a huge ten-race program at Royal Randwick on Tuesday, headlined by the $2 million Big Dance as Sydney looks to steal some of the spotlight away from the iconic Melbourne Cup running at Flemington!

I’ve run the rule over the card, and you can find my complete 2022 Big Dance Day Tips below.

Midway Handicap (1800m) – 11:45am AEDT
No. 1 Karmazone

Karmazone has recorded two wins from as many starts back this time and looks the one to beat in the first on The Big Dance Day.

Karmazone just got there over a mile at Kembla Grange when resuming, beating some quality gallopers home at the midweeks last time out.

Fitter third-up, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.

each way
Highway Handicap (1000m) – 12:25pm AEDT
No. 10 Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman hasn’t been seen at the races since April, but she flies fresh, and she’s the one that I want to be with in this Highway Handicap.

The Matt Dale-trained mare has recorded three wins from her seven career starts, two at this point of her prep.

She’s drawn and weighted well, and she is a touch of overs in my opinion at around the $8.50 mark (at publish).

Benchmark 84 Handicap (1000m) – 1:05pm AEDT
No. 1 The Bopper

The Bopper boasts a class edge over a lot of his rivals in the third on The Big Dance Day and can return a winning.

The Bopper returned some typically smart performances last time in, and he went to the paddock after finishing third in a 1200m Handicap at Eagle Farm.

He’s had a couple of nice trials leading up to his return and is another that boasts great fresh form.

The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1300m) – 1:40pm AEDT
No. 8 Saturn Star

Saturn Star won on debut and can keep alive his unbeaten record at Randwick on Tuesday.

The Zoustar gelding showed ability at the trials prior to debuting and put the writing on the wall with a smart win at Rosehill last month.

I like that he has been back to the trials since that appearance, and he’ll only improve for the experience.

each way
Big Dance (1600m) – 2:20pm AEDT
No. 12 Cisco Bay

$2 million goes on the line in The Big Dance and last-start winner Cisco Bay is the one that I want to be with at a nice price ($15 at publish).

The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained veteran has improved with each of his four starts back this time, filling the minors in BM78 company before charging home to record an impressive win at this track and trip last time.

He takes his place in The Big Dance field in peak order and with even luck, I think that he’ll prove difficult to beat.

each way
Little Dance (1600m) – 3:30pm AEDT
No. 12 Point Counterpoint

It’s another rise in class, but Point Counterpoint has been tough to fault this time, and he looks a genuine lightweight chance in the Little Dance.

The Bull Point gelding returned a winner in the Moree Cup last month and repeated that performance and result at Canterbury last time.

He’s proven on a wet track, all of the other conditions of the race suit, and I think that the $21 about him at publish is over the odds.

Fujitsu General Choisir Handicap (1100m) – 4:10pm AEDT
No. 10 Clemenceau

Clemenceau has only just missed at his two starts back this time and is ready to win on The Big Dance Day.

The Team Hawkes-trained gelding has hardly put a hoof wrong since debuting, he returned with a nice effort behind Remarque at Rosehill Gardens before returning a nice effort behind the talented Zethus at The Valley last time out.

I don’t think that there is a horse of that ability in this field, and it looks the perfect race for Clemenceau.

Furphy Handicap (1300m) – 4:50pm AEDT
No. 9 Cavalier Charles

Cavalier Charles steps out third-up at Randwick on Tuesday and ready to win.

The Denman gelding was a strong and consistent performer last time in and ended his prep in the Country Championships Final, albeit a failed tilt.

So far this time, he’s finished fifth in a BM88 race here at Randwick, and I thought that he was excellent into fourth in The Kosciuszko last time out.

Fitter third-up and out to the 1300m, this looks his race.

each way
Sharp Extensive IT Handicap (1500m) – 5:30pm AEDT
No. 5 Bullfinch

I think that Bullfinch can run a race second-up on The Big Dance Day.

The Kodiac gelding has been a decent contributor for the Waller yard for a few seasons now, and he picked off a couple of nice Saturday races last time in.

He finished down the order behind some decent sprinters in Brisbane when resuming this time, but with the benefit of that run under his belt and getting out to a far more appropriate trip, I think he looks a lovely each way bet.

Cleanaway Handicap (1200m) – 6:05pm AEDT
No. 2 Norwegian Bliss

The undefeated Norwegian Bliss makes her eagerly awaited return to the races in the last on The Big Dance Day and typically, will take plenty of beating.

The daughter of El Roca stamped herself as one to watch by winning on debut at Port Macquarie in September last year and she didn’t take a backwards step, winning each of her first subsequent starts.

She’s trialled well and ready to win again.