The Melbourne Cup might be the focus on Tuesday, but we’ve got 10 races set to rival the action in Victoria, with the fifth edition of the Big Dance taking place at Royal Randwick.
Gringotts is back with a serious chance at a hat-trick in the $3 million feature, while there’s a case to be made for more than a few in wide-open editions of the Barn Dance and the Little Dance.
Keep an eye on the weather with rain set right across the weekend and through to race day. The rail is also out 2m across the circuit.
For a comprehensive look at all 10 races at Randwick, as well as our best bets and form analysis, check out our Big Dance Day Preview by scrolling below.
LA MORRA (6) looks ready for the extra step up in trip coming off a brilliant second-up win over the mile at Kembla Grange.
John Thompson’s mare enjoyed a lovely ride up close to the speed before pulling away, dashing three lengths clear with plenty left to give through the line.
A genuinely wet track might test her, but she’s handled soft going in the past and the wide gate might be an advantage as she looks to push forward early and find the front.
| 6. La Morra (7) 56.5kg03×51 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming 5th of 13 in a Bm64 at Kembla Grange on October 10 over 1400m, 1.75 len behind Gridlock carrying 58kg at $14. Second-up favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 3 len in a Cond Bm68 at Kembla Grange on October 24 over 1600m defeating Satness carrying 56kg at $3.20. Starting to reach her potential and can go on with it now. | |||
FLIRTATION (16) likes some cut in the ground and arrives first-up off a nice trial at Muswellbrook leading in.
The Snitzel mare gapped her rivals by 1.7 lengths to claim her maiden at Scone in late May and was then runner-up to Zoucratic at Muswellbrook, who more recently has claimed the Krambach Cup at Taree.
The 1000m trip looks right in her wheelhouse off a break and she maps to settle close to the speed under Ashley Morgan, who gets in nicely at the weights carrying 54kg.
| 16. Flirtation (5) 54kg212x | |||
| Resumes from a spell. Finished off last campaign second of 8 at Muswellbrook Ctry Cl1 June 12 over 1280m, soft track; 2.25 len behind Zoucratic carrying 58.5kg at $1.45. On debut second of 9 at Scone Mdn-Sw May 15 over 1000m, a long neck behind Copperline carrying 57.5kg at $2.80. Talented mare who looks up to this. | |||
HELLENIC BELLE (11) looks to have come back well for the Archibald Team.
The Hellbent filly ran on strongly fresh at Rosehill a few weeks ago in a deep fillies and mares race, held up briefly at the top of the straight, but really motoring home to finish just over half a length off as the runner-up.
A back to back winner of the Starmaker and Wellington Boot earlier in the autumn, she looks ready for metro grade now with the soft gate offering Braith Nock every opportunity to find cover in transit.
| 11. Hellenic Belle (5) 58kg110×2 | |||
| Second-up. First-up after five months 2nd of 10 in a F&M Bm72 at Rosehill on October 14 over 1100m, slow going 0.7 len behind Maybe Moet with 56kg at $5.50. Previously second-up won by 0.5 len in a Starmaker at Muswellbrook on March 27 over 1000m in soft going defeating Better Off Alone carrying 56kg at $5.50. Proven second up and looks set for a big prep. | |||
MAN OF WORTH (6) should see good support off an encouraging ruun at Randwick fresh from a spell.
Chris Waller’s six-year-old stuck on well along the rail to finish third, beaten only two lengths by Cross Tasman.
He’s mixed his form over 13 starts but tends to feature in the money more often than not. A back to back winner at the midweeks earlier in the year, he looks poised to run a big race up over 1500m with a bit of wet track experience also on his resume.
| 6. Man Of Worth (2) 56.5kg166×3 | |||
| Dual acceptor. Second-up. First-up after five months 3rd of 15 in a Bm88 at this track on October 17 over 1400m, slow going 2 len behind Cross Tasman carrying 56kg at $12. Previously second-up 6th of 13 in a Bm78 at Scone on May 16 over 1700m, 3 len behind Tavros with 57kg at $3.50. Fitter for that run and will be tough to beat from the low gate. | |||
CHURCHILL’S CHOICE (11) looks set to peak third-up over her preferred trip.
Nathan Doyle’s mare has done little wrong in a pair of Group 3 contests this time in work, finishing fifth in the Tibbie Stakes first-up, before flashing home late along the inside to land 2.3 lengths off Unleeshing in the Angst Stakes here over the track and trip.
She won’t know herself carrying 53kg and has relished some sting out of the track in the past.
| 11. Churchill’s Choice (6) 53kg22×56 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming 5th of 14 in the G3 Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle on September 18 over 1400m, 3.5 len behind Perfumist with 57kg at $6. Second run from a spell 6th of 10 in the G3 Angst Stakes at this track on October 17 over 1600m, slow going 2.5 len behind Unleeshing carrying 56kg at $12. Racing well. Caught the eye in two runs back and ready to win in this easier race. | |||
LORD REMLAP (6) is fourth-up and set to peak over slightly longer now.
The four-year-old son to Star Turn is coming off a tough run in The Kosciuszko that saw him caught wide from an awful barrier, although he still made up big ground in the run home for sixth.
He was entitled to finish three lengths off that day, but should benefit from a more economical ride in transit this time from an inside gate.
The blinkers come off the first time and the 1.5kg relief at the weights is key.
| 6. Lord Remlap (3) 54kg1×136 | |||
| Most recently 6th of 14 in a The Kosciuszko at this track on October 17 over 1200m, slow going 3 len behind Chains Of Love with 55.5kg at $10. Before that 3rd of 14 in a Bm72 at Rosehill on September 30 over 1200m, 1.75 len behind West Of Dalby carrying 60kg at $5.50. Ready to peak after three runs back and looks sure to feature. | |||
I’MINTOWIN (2) has seen good support after tackling this track and trip three weeks ago.
The son to Contributer was up on the speed and forced further forward than he may have liked from a wide gate, sticking on well however to finish fourth in behind Unleeshing.
It’s right to mention he’s 0-3 over 1600m now, but this is still a winnable assignment coming off a very handy trial win at Hawkesbury between runs.
Drawn a better gate this time, he’ll benefit from a more patient ride with Regan Bayliss taking over in the irons.
| 2. I’Mintowin (5) 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. | |||
WANARUAH (2) has enjoyed another four-week break between runs.
He’s looking to build on a narrow win over further last month in a similar BM94 contest in which he went straight to the front from the inside alley and made every post a winner.
This is slightly tougher now carrying 61.5kg for the first time, but after scratching from the Russell Balding Stakes on Saturday, it looks the right race for him.
| 2. Wanaruah (2) 60kg11×01 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming ran last of 12 in the G2 Concorde Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1000m, 7 len behind Tempted with 57kg at $61. Second run from a spell won by a nose in a Bm94 at this track on October 3 over 1200m in soft going defeating Platinum Pantheon with 59.5kg at $17. Nicely placed and expected to go well again for the new yard. | |||
COMPENSATION (4) looks forward enough to run a big race off a decent layoff.
Bjorn Baker’s gelding was all class over his maiden prep through the autumn, debuting for third at Warwick Farm and improving significantly to win his next three starts across Roseehill, Randwick, and Gosford – handling the rise in grade each time.
His two lead-up trials have been sensational and he gets in nicely at the weights here thanks to the claim. Looks hard to beat.
| 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. | |||
Keen to see ENAMORADA (8) return to the races for Ciaron Maher.
This mare to So You Think caught the eye winning at Sandown in February, before stepping up to Saturday grade where she finished runner-up at Caulfield in a BM74, before taking out a similar 3&4YO race here at Randwick over 1400m.
She’s trialed up a treat in two recent hit-outs, motoring home from last to show plenty of late toe through the line.
The gate leaves Nash Rawiller with some early work to do but this does look to be a winnable race for her on return.
| 8. Enamorada (6) 57.5kg5121x | |||
| Mare returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation won by 1.75 len this track 3&4yo Bm72 April 25 over 1400m defeating Mr Miller with 59.5kg at $3.90. First up last campaign fifth of 10 at Sandown-Hillside Bm66 February 4 over 1300m, 3.5 len behind Winsome Star with 59kg at $1.75. Expecting a positive return. | |||