The Big Dance 2026 Results on Melbourne Cup Day: Hellsing Official Winner on Protest

The 2026 The Big Dance results were not officially settled until after a dramatic protest hearing at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day in Sydney, with Hellsing ultimately awarded victory in the rich $3 million feature following steward intervention.

Official 2026 The Big Dance winner Hellsing — $26 outsider Hellsing was officially elevated to the top of The Big Dance 2026 results after a dramatic protest. Photo: Bradley Photos.

Initially, Formal Display had claimed this year’s Restricted Listed The Big Dance (1600m) in a thrilling finish, but after a protest was lodged by Nash Rawiller aboard favourite and dual defending champion Gringotts, stewards reviewed significant interference suffered by the beaten favourite between the 600m and 500m. Following a lengthy hearing, the protest against Formal Display was upheld, elevating Hellsing to victory and reshuffling the finishing order in one of the most controversial editions of The Big Dance yet.

HELLSING takes the Big Dance crown! ?

A bittersweet result for the team, with HELLSING awarded the win on protest after stablemate FORMAL DISPLAY was first past the post. Both horses ran their hearts out, and we couldn’t be prouder of them. ??

A huge well done to Teme Valley… pic.twitter.com/wRf3pRvWV2
— Annabel and Rob Archibald Racing (@archibaldracing) November 3, 2026

2026 The Big Dance Results

#9 Hellsing
#16 Matias
#1 Gringotts

The revised result saw $26 outsider Hellsing officially declared The Big Dance winner for trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald and jockey Tom Sherry, with Matias promoted to second and hot favourite Gringotts elevated into third.

The Big Dance?goes to HELLSING!@archibaldracing holds the feature following a protest against first past the post Formal Display. @tomo_sherry is the winning rider with Matias & Gringotts promoted to second & third in a dramatic aftermath to the $3m race at Randwick.@tabcomau pic.twitter.com/tt0OevdndB
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) November 3, 2026

Stewards Uphold Protest in Dramatic Finish

The defining moment of the race came after the finish rather than before it, with Racing NSW stewards siding with connections of Gringotts following interference from Formal Display during the middle stages.

Chief Steward Tom Moxon outlined the reasoning behind the decision.

“In the middle stages, Gringotts is following Magnatear. Magnatear remains in that position until approaching the 600 metres,” he explained.

“We say that from that point, Formal Display does shift out, initially crowds your running. More significantly, fifty metres later, shifts out further.”

Stewards determined the interference cost the horse significant momentum and valuable ground.

“This shift results in Gringotts becoming badly buffeted when crowded between Puntin and Formal Display and as a consequence of that buffering, this results in Gringotts losing considerable ground, we say in the vicinity of in excess of two lengths.”

The panel ultimately concluded the interference materially affected the result.

“Having regard to the incident and the ground lost and how the horse did then close the race off, the stewards can be comfortably satisfied that had that interference between the 600 metres and 500 metres not occurred, that Gringotts would have finished in advance of Formal Display and therefore we uphold the protest.”

Hellsing Delivers for Archibald Stable

Before the protest proceedings unfolded, co-trainer Rob Archibald reflected on the significance of the result for connections of the imported gelding.

“What an amazing concept for all these horses to win all around NSW,” he said.

“They come together today.

“Sydney Spring Carnival, what a time to be part of it.

“Great prizemoney.

“Lucky to be here.”

The six-year-old son of Dandy Man had earned his place in the field through victory in the 2026 Scone Cup, one of the race’s recognised qualifying events, and made the most of the opportunity when it mattered.

Tom Sherry Finally Gets Rewarded

Jockey Tom Sherry admitted the circumstances were unusual, but was happy to take the result after Hellsing’s brave effort.

“We’ll take it,” Sherry said.

“The funny thing is with the horse, third-up every prep he fires.”

Sherry felt the gelding’s lead-up form suggested he was ready to peak.

“He had two ordinary runs last preparation, then he won at Randwick and he went on to win the Scone Cup,” he added.

“I thought he’d had a similar preparation.

“He ran well first-up, went to the Toorak, he didn’t have a great run.

“He was three-deep the trip in a good Toorak and I thought he was spot-on today and the team was happy with him.”

The jockey believed Hellsing had done enough on merit to win.

“He quickened to win the race,” he said.

“But he was tough.

“I think if he didn’t get held up and he got to me slowly, my guy would have fought on a little harder.”

Sherry admitted his emotions got the better of him immediately after the line.

“I was cursing Chad after the line, just because he’s on heat at the minute,” Sherry went on to say.

“It was the first good chance I’ve had to win a race, so I wasn’t too happy with him, just because he won.

“I feel a little bit bad for him now, to be fair.”

And after the protest result:

“He’s gone super.

“I was cursing him after the line thinking he’s won an Everest and an Eagle, just give us a chance here.

“We’ll take it, for sure.

“It’s not how we want to win, but we’ll take it.”

Favourite Gringotts Endures Frustrating Afternoon

The protest could not quite deliver victory to favourite Gringotts, but jockey Nash Rawiller had little doubt his mount’s chances were severely compromised.

“A tragedy beaten,” Rawiller summarised.

Despite eventually being promoted into third placing following the inquiry, the beaten favourite was left wondering what might have been after his interrupted run through the crucial stages of the race.

The dramatic result capped another memorable Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick, with Hellsing earning the biggest win of his career in extraordinary circumstances. While controversy surrounded the final result, the Archibald-trained stayer added The Big Dance trophy to an impressive record and justified his place among NSW’s premier mile performers.