Big Dance Wild Card 2026
Part 1 | The Last Two Invitations
Saturday 17 October 2026 | Royal Randwick Racecourse
Chapter 1
Back in Tommy’s Office
Race Day Co Team - Tommy, Kenny and Finn
There was something rather familiar about the scene inside the Race Day Co office. Racing newspapers scattered across the desk, a map of country New South Wales pinned to the wall, and three men who had spent much of the racing season following a remarkable journey towards Randwick.
Tommy sat behind his old wooden desk, cloth cap resting comfortably on his head, studying the growing list of Big Dance qualifiers. Finn had his laptop open, checking the latest acceptances, while Kenny occupied the chair nearest the window, form guide in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.
“Well, I’ve found the winner,” Kenny announced confidently.
Tommy barely looked up.
“Give over, Kenneth. You found three winners yesterday, and none of them got home.”
Finn laughed, but Kenny wasn’t listening. He was already studying the next page.
Outside, the spring sunshine was beginning to warm the morning. Inside, the conversation gradually turned from Saturday’s betting to the remarkable collection of country towns that had helped shape this year’s Big Dance.
They remembered the grandstands, the volunteers, the trainers, the travelling jockeys and the wonderful characters encountered along the way. From country racecourses to Randwick, every qualifying horse carried a story, and behind every story stood a community that had helped make the occasion possible.
Tommy leaned back in his chair and looked at the map.
“That’s what I love about this race,” he said quietly. “All those little towns, all those people, and now their horses get a chance on one of the biggest stages in the country.”
For once, even Kenny agreed.
Chapter 2
One Mile, Two Tickets
On Saturday afternoon, Royal Randwick will stage the Big Dance Wild Card, a 1600-metre contest offering one final opportunity for two horses to secure their places in the $3 million Big Dance on Melbourne Cup Day.
Unlike the country qualifying races that have provided the backbone of the Road to Randwick, the Wild Card offers something particularly tantalising. Both the winner and runner-up earn their invitations, making the battle for second place every bit as significant as the contest for victory.
Ten runners remain following the scratching of Vivy Air, with a fascinating mixture of established performers and emerging contenders preparing to tackle the Randwick mile.
For some connections, Saturday represents a chance to revive a campaign that hasn’t quite gone to plan. For others, it offers the opportunity to turn a promising spring into something considerably more memorable.
And for two sets of owners, trainers and stable staff, there may be an extraordinary reward waiting at the finish line.
Back in the office, Finn closed his laptop.
“Two places left, boys. After Saturday, we’ll know who’s joining the Dance.”
Kenny folded his form guide and smiled.
“Well, I’ve got my two.”
Tommy shook his head.
“Of course you have, Kenneth. Just make sure they’re both in the same race.”
With the afternoon’s work almost finished, Finn reminded the others of their plans for the following day. They were heading to Randwick, not simply to study the track or check the latest racing news, but to spend a little time exploring the history of a place that had witnessed generations of Australian racing greatness.
Tommy reached for his old coat.
“Come on, lads. Let’s call it a day. Tomorrow we’ll walk where some of the greatest names in racing once stood.”
Kenny grinned.
“And perhaps find a winner while we’re there.”
Some things, Tommy decided, would never change.
An artistic tribute to Randwick's racing heritage, bringing George Moore and T.J. Smith
together with the Race Day Co team across the generations.
Chapter 3
Where Yesterday Still Walks
The following morning, the three men found themselves standing outside Randwick’s historic Members’ Stand, its familiar iron lacework and graceful verandahs carrying echoes of another racing era.
Tommy paused, looking up at the old building. Generations of owners, trainers, jockeys and racegoers had passed through these grounds, each leaving something of themselves behind.
It was easy to imagine the scene decades earlier. Men in tailored suits, women in their finest race-day fashions, bookmakers calling the odds and the unmistakable excitement of horses preparing to race.
Among the great names woven into Randwick’s history were legendary jockey George Moore and master trainer T.J. Smith, two men whose achievements helped shape Australian racing through the 1950s and 1960s and far beyond.
For a moment, the years seemed to fall away. The crowds changed, the fashions changed, but the grand old stand remained, a silent witness to it all.
Finn glanced towards Tommy.
“Imagine the stories these walls could tell.”
Tommy smiled.
“Ah, lad, we’d be here till Christmas listening to them.”
Kenny looked towards the track.
“Well, here’s hoping Saturday gives us another one worth remembering.”
And with that, the three friends turned their attention towards the Randwick mile, where two more names were waiting for their place in racing history.
Part 2 | A Mountain of Excitement,
Two Tickets to the Dance
Saturday 17 October 2026 | Royal Randwick Racecourse
Chapter 1
Love, Laughter and a Mountain to Climb
Royal Randwick is preparing for one of the biggest days on Australia’s racing calendar, with a reported sell-out crowd of 52,000 expected for Saturday’s running of The Everest. And while the world’s richest race on turf will command the headlines, there’s another contest attracting plenty of attention before the horses even reach the barriers.
Apparently, finding a winner isn’t the only ambition for thousands of young racegoers.
According to a report by Willow Berry in Friday’s Daily Telegraph, The Everest is becoming something of a social occasion for Sydney’s singles, with ticket sales among 18 to 24-year-olds reportedly up 20 per cent on last year. Women account for 53 per cent of ticket sales, and the combination of fashion, entertainment and racing has created an atmosphere that stretches well beyond the mounting yard.
It’s a wonderful advertisement for Australian racing and a credit to Racing NSW and everyone involved in bringing such an occasion together. Racing has always been about more than horses. It’s about people, friendships, shared experiences and occasionally meeting someone who makes the afternoon considerably more memorable.
For Tommy, Kenny and Finn, however, there was another reason to arrive early.
The Big Dance Wild Card would open the programme at 12.30pm, with two horses about to earn the final invitations to November’s $3 million Big Dance.
Kenny surveyed the colourful crowd gathering around Randwick.
“Look at this, boys. Fifty-two thousand people, and half of them aren’t even here for the horses!”
Finn smiled.
“Apparently it’s quite the place to meet someone.”
Tommy glanced at the young analyst.
“Don’t you be getting any ideas, lad. Freya will be here for the Big Dance, and I’ve no intention of explaining to her why you’ve suddenly developed an interest in the fashion parade.”
Kenny laughed.
“He’s only studying the form, Tommy!”
“Well, he’d better make sure he’s studying the right kind.”
Chapter 2
Back to Business, Boys
Tommy unfolded his race programme.
“Right, back to business. Finn, today it’s the fillies on the track, not off it. Let’s see who’s going to the Big Dance.”
The Wild Card had attracted an intriguing field, headed by Matias, the lightly raced four-year-old from the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable. With just 53kg, barrier one and an encouraging first-up fourth behind Fully Lit in Newcastle’s Cameron Handicap, he had emerged as the favourite and the leading selection of several racing analysts.
“He’s the one with the upside,” Finn explained. “He’s still improving, while a few of these older horses are trying to find their best form again.”
But Kris Lees had other ideas.
The trainer who won the inaugural Big Dance with Rustic Steel in 2022 had assembled a four-pronged attack featuring Tavi Time, Lord Of Biscay, You Wahng and Pier Pressure.
Tavi Time brought proven class but faced the challenge of 61.5kg on a rain-affected surface. Lord Of Biscay was returning to Sydney after a disappointing Caulfield appearance, while Group 1 winner You Wahng was expected to improve second-up.
Pier Pressure added another twist. Scratched from Friday’s Taree Gold Cup, she remained in the Wild Card field, giving Lees another opportunity to secure qualification.
“Four runners from one stable,” Kenny observed. “Surely one of them gets through.”
Tommy raised an eyebrow.
“That’s what the other trainers are hoping he doesn’t do.”
And among those challengers was It’s A Knockout, the consistent Jason Deamer trained mare who had finished third in the Dubbo Gold Cup. With Zac Lloyd aboard and only 52kg to carry, she looked a serious threat.
Finn tapped the form guide.
“Matias is the horse to beat, but It’s A Knockout has the right profile to make this interesting.”
For once, Kenny agreed.
Chapter 3
The Last Two Invitations
Beyond the leading contenders, several familiar names were hoping to extend their Road to Randwick journeys.
Mazis, from the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable, had contested the Dubbo Gold Cup and now had another opportunity to secure eligibility. Pier Pressure had also featured in that Dubbo contest, while the experienced Hooligan Tommy brought an impressive record of six Randwick victories.
Palmetto needed to rediscover his better form, and Belleistic Kids faced a considerable rise in class, but racing has never been particularly interested in following a script.
What made the Wild Card special was its unusual reward.
The winner would receive a coveted invitation to the $3 million Big Dance on Melbourne Cup Day, but so would the runner-up. Two horses, two sets of connections and one final opportunity to join the qualifiers who had earned their places across country New South Wales.
For Race Day Co, it represented another milestone in a journey that had taken the team through country towns, historic grandstands, lively pubs and racecourses where volunteers worked tirelessly to keep the sport they loved alive.
Now the road had brought them to Royal Randwick.
Finn looked towards the mounting yard.
“Two tickets left, boys. By lunchtime we’ll know who’s going to the Dance.”
Kenny folded his programme.
“Matias and It’s A Knockout. That’s my two.”
Tommy smiled.
“Well, Kenneth, you’ve finally managed to pick two horses in the same race.”
The three friends laughed as the growing Everest Day crowd began to fill the grandstands.
For thousands of racegoers, Saturday promised fashion, entertainment, excitement and perhaps even a little romance.
But for ten horses and their connections, the opening race offered something altogether different.
A chance to turn one afternoon at Randwick into an invitation to the biggest Dance of their lives.
PART 3 — THE WILD CARD REVIEW
Chapter 1 - A Knockout Ride
There are days when a horse wins because everything falls into place. And there are days when everything falls into place because the jockey makes certain it does. At Royal Randwick on Everest Day, Zac Lloyd gave us a little of both.
Long before the barriers opened for the Big Dance Wild Card, the young jockey had already revealed his intentions. Speaking with Corey Brown, Lloyd explained that much would depend on how his mount, It's A Knockout, jumped in relation to Palmetto. He wanted to settle close, find cover and give his mare every opportunity to finish strongly. It was a simple plan, but one that would require timing, patience and a little racing intelligence.
The market had been telling its own story. It's A Knockout had attracted support throughout the week, while favourite Matias looked beautifully placed with just 53 kilograms. Tavi Time, carrying the considerable burden of 61.5 kilograms, had his admirers too. And Palmetto, whose price had shortened dramatically during the morning, was attracting renewed interest.
Yet when the gates opened, Lloyd had only one concern: finding the right position.
He followed Palmetto, settled beautifully one-out and one-back, and allowed It's A Knockout to travel comfortably through the early stages. No unnecessary effort, no frantic searching for a position. Just a jockey who knew where he wanted to be.
Approaching the 500 metres, Lloyd began to make his move. It's A Knockout responded, gathering momentum as the field swept towards the home turn. The mare who had so often found herself too far back, searching for room or relying on others to carry her into a race, was suddenly exactly where she needed to be.
And this time, there would be no hard-luck story.
It's A Knockout surged to the front and held her advantage, with Matias chasing gamely into second and Tavi Time finishing third. The winning time was 1:34.93, and the official finishing numbers were 7, 6, 1 and 5.
For trainer Jason Deamer, it was a wonderful reward for his work with a mare who had been racing consistently without finding the winner's stall. For Lloyd, it was another example of the composure and judgement that have made him one of Sydney racing's outstanding young talents.
And for It's A Knockout?
Well, the name suddenly seemed rather appropriate.
Chapter 2: Two Tickets, One Last Dance
By the time the horses returned to scale, the celebrations of Everest Day were already gathering momentum around Royal Randwick. Thousands of racegoers had arrived early, the grandstands were filling, and the atmosphere promised something extraordinary.
But for two horses, the day's most important business had already been completed.
It's A Knockout and Matias had secured the final two Wild Card invitations to the $3 million Big Dance on Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 3 November.
For It's A Knockout, the victory was particularly satisfying. Her recent form had suggested she was better than her finishing positions, and her Dubbo Cup performance had provided another glimpse of a mare capable of more. Today, with the right circumstances and an expertly judged ride, she delivered.
Matias may not have justified his favouritism, but his second placing was no consolation prize. He had achieved what mattered most: qualification for the richest race on the Country Cups calendar. His connections now had a place in the Big Dance, and another opportunity to prepare their horse for the first Tuesday in November.
Tavi Time, meanwhile, lost little admirers' respect. Conceding considerable weight to his rivals, the Chris Lees-trained gelding battled on for third. It was a performance that deserved acknowledgement, even if the two coveted invitations had gone elsewhere.
And somewhere among the racegoers, one imagines Tommy, Kenny and Finn finally putting down their form guides.
“Well,” Kenny might have declared, “that's two more names for the book.”
Finn would already have his laptop open, updating the Road to Randwick records.
And Tommy?
He'd probably have been looking beyond the winning post, thinking about all those country towns, racecourses, volunteers, owners, trainers and jockeys whose journeys had brought us to this moment.
Because the Big Dance has never been just another race.
It is the dream that begins on country tracks, travels through small communities and historic racing clubs, and eventually arrives beneath the grandstands of Royal Randwick.
We've followed those journeys throughout the season. We've celebrated the winners, acknowledged the runners-up, listened to their stories and watched the qualifying picture gradually take shape.
Now the Wild Card has been run.
The final invitations have been claimed.
And with Melbourne Cup Day approaching, the next chapter belongs to the horses who will assemble for the Big Dance itself.
The road to Randwick is almost complete.
The dancing is about to begin.
