The substantial $3 million prize pool associated with The Big Dance has prompted the connections of Matias to prioritise this Melbourne Cup Day feature. They are confident that a large and competitive field will establish a genuine racing tempo.
Having captured the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) in the autumn, Matias made a strong return to racing with a fourth-place finish in the Cameron Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle. Subsequently, he secured his berth in The Big Dance by finishing runner-up to It’s A Knockout in the Big Dance Wild Card (1600m).
Although the Sydney Gold Cup (2000m), formerly known as the Rosehill Gold Cup, was considered as an alternative, co-trainer Gerald Ryan highlighted the significant financial incentive of $2.25 million in prizemoney as a key consideration.
“He was going to run in the Rosehill Cup or the Big Dance, but with the prizemoney, the owners wanted to go to the Big Dance on Tuesday,” Ryan stated. “The negative there is he could be looking for further than 1600 metres, but in saying that, looking at the way the field is shaping up, the Big Dance is going to be run at a pretty good tempo. That might help him. His two runs have been terrific, and his coat has come right through now.”
Matias will be partnered by Reece Jones from the inside barrier. Meanwhile, the topweight, Gringotts, has drawn barrier nine as it seeks to achieve a remarkable third consecutive victory in The Big Dance.
The seven-year-old is recognised as the class runner of the field and has been building its form steadily. Its campaign commenced with a third-place finish behind Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes (1400m). It then finished two lengths behind the same mare in the Seven Sunrise Stakes (1600m) before a seventh-place showing last start in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m).
Joe Pride’s charge, Estadio Mestalla, is slated to carry the topweight of 62kg in the Little Dance (1600m). This gelding qualified for the event after securing second place in The Gong (1600m) in November last year.
Pride has indicated that this Melbourne Cup Day consolation race has been a target since The Gong, and he expects Estadio Mestalla to be a strong contender, despite its most recent outing as the favourite where it was defeated.
“He’s a better chance of picking up the Little Dance (than the Big Dance), and he’ll be hard to beat,” Pride commented. “He’s come through his last run really well. He’ll bounce back.”
Both The Big Dance and The Little Dance are expected to field their maximum capacity of 20 runners. The Barn Dance (1300m) and the Choisir Handicap (1100m) will also be run as part of the Sydney racing features.
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