2024 The Big Dance winner Gringotts

2024 The Big Dance Winner Gringotts Heads Maher Quinella

Lucy Henderson November 5, 2024

2024 The Big Dance Winner Gringotts Heads Maher Quinella

Sydney’s feature race on Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick, The Big Dance 2024, has been won by the Ciaron Maher-trained Tamworth Cup winner Gringotts who was too strong holding on to beat stablemate Vivy Air by a length.

The $3 million Big Dance (1600m) held Listed status for the first time this year with betting on the lucrative Black-Type led for a long time by Gringotts until he was displaced at the top of the markets on race day by Tavi Time.

Maher’s consistent Per Incanto gelding however rewarded his early backers with five-year-old Gringotts impressive with Tommy Berry aboard this year’s The Big Dance winner.

“That’s a huge, huge effort, huge team effort,” stable rep Johan Gerard-Dubord told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“Obviously Gringotts has been the target since Tamworth. We had him right today. Obviously, the barrier was always going to be a concern, but we were very confident in where he was going.

“Tommy was happy to do a bit of work early.

“He travelled well and then kicked and it was just too good for them. Great to get a win for those owners.

“Ozzie, a great supporter, some very good people in the horse.”

From wide out in gate 19 of 20, the Kiwi-bred gelding was quick out to cross and get into a forward position settling on speed second behind the front running Zouatica who eventually faded to finish at the tail end of the field.

Berry took Gringotts to the lead 300m out from the line and the horse stuck on with the job well, fighting all the way to hold on and salute for the $1.56 million first prize.

“Well, done to Ciaron. I know it’s not the Melbourne Cup mate, but you’ve still got that to come,” winning hoop Berry said post-victory.

Gringotts presented third-up and fit off too good Sydney lead-up wins this spring having run back-to-back seconds by narrow margins in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie and $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes over 1400m.

He came to Randwick on Tuesday ready to win relishing the step back up to his pet distance of a mile and was brilliant for connections.

Maher’s Big Dance Wild Card runner-up, four-year-old Hellbent mare Vivy Air, was brave in defeat finishing second.

“The second horse, Vivy Air, she is improving at every start. Obviously, it’s the first prep for us,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“We’ve taken our time, but she looks better all the time. She’s happier. She’s a mare that’s living at Bong Bong. She’s loving it there. And yeah, it’s a great effort from the team.

“The logistics obviously take a bit of work, but we just try to place them where they’re best suited. Some horses, obviously love the quiet environment at Bong Bong.

“Some horses need a bit more work; they enjoy the beach. And some horses are happy to be away from. But yeah, that’s obviously those facilities, whether it’s New South Wales or Victoria, obviously huge assets and got a great team of people to go with it.”

In third completing this year’s The Big Dance trifecta was Suparazi who came off a sixth in The Valley’s Group 2 Crystal Mile on Cox Plate Day to narrowly deny the heavily backed Tavi Time (4th) a spot in the placings today.

The Big Dance 2024 Odds & Results

Randwick R5
Big Dance (L)
Final Race time:  1730776975
Runner DetailsWinPlace
1st
4. Gringotts (19) J: Tommy Berry 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher
2nd
17. Vivy Air (5) J: Andrew Adkins 53kg
T: Ciaron Maher
3rd
8. Suparazi (8) J: Tim Clark 54kg
T: Ben Brisbourne
4th
12. Tavi Time (7) J: Chad Schofield 53kg
T: Kris Lees
5th
11. Ducasse (15) J: Regan Bayliss 53kg
T: Michael Freedman
6th
7. Redstone Well (10) J: Tom Sherry 55.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
7th
2. Detonator Jack (17) J: Jason Collett 59.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher
8th
5. Sky Lab (6) J: Ashley Morgan 58.5kg
T: Paul Perry
9th
13. Overriding (16) J: Jay Ford 53kg
T: Nathan Doyle
10th
1. Here To Shock (1) J: Nash Rawiller 62kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes
11th
14. Cranky Harry (9) J: Jake Bayliss 53kg
T: Matthew Dunn
12th
10. Floating (12) J: Zac Wadick 53kg
T: Matthew Smith
13th
16. Green Shadows (20) J: Alysha Collett 53kg
T: G Ryan & S Alexiou
14th
6. Hezashocka (2) J: Dylan Gibbons 58kg
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
15th
3. Lion's Roar (14) J: Josh Parr 59kg
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton
16th
20. Money From The Sky (13) J: Reece Jones 53kg
T: Sara Ryan
17th
18. Prince Of Helena (3) J: Jake Duffy 53kg
T: Craig Weeding
18th
15. Sneak Preview (4) J: Mathew Cahill 53kg
T: Peter Nestor
19th
9. Time Quest (11) J: Christian Reith 54kg
T: Matthew Smith
20th
19. Zouatica (18) J: Molly Bourke 53kg
T: B Joseph & P & M Jones
Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing.
Data retrieved: 14/12/2024 01:03:35 PM (Australia/Brisbane)

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