The substantial $3 million prize money on offer for The Big Dance has convinced the connections of Matias to target the Melbourne Cup Day feature, where they believe a large field will ensure a genuine racing tempo.

After a commanding victory in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) during the autumn, Matias made a promising return with a solid fourth in the Cameron Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle. He then secured his spot in The Big Dance by finishing second to It’s A Knockout in the Big Dance Wild Card (1600m).

While the Sydney Gold Cup (2000m), formerly known as the Rosehill Gold Cup, was also a consideration for the horse, co-trainer Gerald Ryan highlighted the significant $2.25 million prizemoney difference as a key factor.

“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 ridden by Reece Jones from the inside barrier. Meanwhile, topweight Gringotts will start from barrier nine as he aims to claim The Big Dance for the third consecutive year.

The seven-year-old is considered the class runner and has been building form impressively. He resumed with a third-place finish behind Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes (1400m) and was two lengths behind the same mare in the Seven Sunrise Stakes (1600m) before a seventh-place finish last start in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m).

Estadio Mestalla, trained by Joe Pride, will carry the topweight of 62kg in the Little Dance (1600m). This gelding qualified for the race following his runner-up performance in The Gong (1600m) in November last year.

This Melbourne Cup Day consolation race has been a target for the gelding since that run, and Pride anticipates Estadio Mestalla will be the horse to beat, despite his last-start defeat as the favourite.

“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.”

Full fields of 20 competitors are expected to compete in both The Big Dance and The Little Dance. The Barn Dance (1300m) and the Choisir Handicap (1100m) will also feature as part of the afternoon’s Sydney racing program.

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