Top trainer backs NSW’s audacious Melbourne Cup Day plan

One of Australia’s top trainers is fully backing an audacious NSW plan to cash in on the Melbourne Cup.

Racing NSW boss Peter V’Landys will today announce a plan to run the new $2 million race — called the Big Dance — at Randwick straight after the Melbourne Cup.

The Daily Telegraph reports the race will give the winners of 25 Country Cup races across NSW the chance to compete for the $2 million in prize money.

Melbourne Cup winning trainer Danny O’Brien says the idea makes sense.

“It’s a big day Australia-wide, Melbourne Cup Day,” he told Ross and Russel.

“I think it’s one of the biggest crowds, if not the biggest they get at Randwick … so putting on a big race locally seems like a good idea.

“There’s plenty of good jockeys to go around. There’s only very flimsy arguments against programming big racing in Sydney and Melbourne on the same day.”

With $2 million in prize money up for grabs, the race will be bigger than any race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, except for the $8 million Cup.

It’s the latest move by a jealous Racing NSW to piggyback off Victoria’s spring carnival. While the new $2m race is unlikely to impact Melbourne Cup fields, it will potentially see quality distance horses bypass trips to Victoria in favour of embarking on a NSW country cup campaign in the hope of chasing the $2m purse.

But Mr O’Brien says, ultimately, it’ll be a win for racing fans.

“The fan who’s sitting at home on these big days wants as much good product as they can get, and if there’s a big race in Sydney an hour after the Melbourne Cup, that can only be a good thing for most people,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear why Danny O’Brien is fully behind the new race