Cisco Bay has charged home through the middle of the field in the Big Dance Wild Card (1600m) at Royal Randwick to book his spot in the $2 million feature on November 1 for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.
Open to any horse who had contested a Big Dance qualifying Country Cup without winning, the Wild Card guaranteed first and second place getters a ballot exempt start in the inaugural event.
Wicklow ($7) flew down the outside for second with Willie Pike onboard for the Chris Waller stable to also gain a Big Dance start, but the Irish import couldn’t get to the eventual winner who was pulling away for the 1.19-length victory.
Ridden a treat by Robbie Dolan, Cisco Bay started at $20 odds with online bookmakers after finishing ninth to Casino Kid in the Big Dance qualifying Dubbo Cup (1600m) on September 11 before a close last start third in a 1400m benchmark 78 at Warwick Farm on October 3.
“It’s a big day in racing, they don’t come any bigger than this in Sydney. It’s great to be on the board,” Dolan said after the win.
“I seem to come alive on these big days, it’s great to be back,
“It’s a horse I have a long association with over the past couple of years and it’s great to be back on him.”
The 8-year-old son of So You think has amassed nearly $550,000 in prizemoney over his 47-start career. With eight wins and 17 minor placings to his credit and winner at least once in each of his racing preparations since 2018, the gelding has well surpassed his $22,000 purchase price as a weanling at Inglis’ Great Southern Sale in 2015.
“I won the Nowra Cup on him (in 2020). I know it’s a Nowra Cup, but he let down really well that day and it was also on a drying track, and I think the drying track was definitely the key to him today.”
Jumping from barrier two, Dolan settled to the rear of the field and was still sitting in 13th position at the 400m before finding the gap he needed.
“We were back on the fence. I’ve ridden this horse heaps before and he ha a really good turn of foot if you can hold him up as long as you can. I just needed a bit of luck in running when I did and thankfully, I got it.”
Dolan also expressed his enthusiasm of the concept of the Big Dance,
“A horse like him, who is probably not up to those group horses, to be racing for $2 million is unbelievable.”
The singing jockey also revealed that his debut single is set to be released next Friday,
“I’m bringing out a song called Stay With Me.
” I’m going to have to name it Cisco Bay after that,” he joked.
“It will be on all platforms and it’s great to see the industry really supporting me with the release.”
The Big Dance Wildcard Replay – Cisco Bay
Randwick Race 2 – 15/10/22
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