DILMI CALLS UP EXPERIENCED VICTORIAN JOCKEY FOR BIG DANCE

SIX times Group 1 winning jockey Dean Yandell would be riding in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup if all had gone to plan!

Instead he has answered a call from Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi to partner Aix En Provence in the $3m Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick the same day.

The vastly experienced 51-year-old Victorian is returning to the scene of his maiden Group 1 triumph on favorite Yankee Rose in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in 2016.

Yendall qualified Pakenham-trained mare Basilinna for the $10m Cup (3200m) at Flemington by winning the 2800m Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington in May on the $18 outsider.

However, she was subsequently ruled out of the famous two-miler when she had to undergo surgery to have bone chips removed from her near fore fetlock.]

So Yendall will be at Tuesday’s corresponding meeting at Randwick, and Dilmi is chuffed that he is making the trip.

“I know Dean as he rode for James Cummings when I was looking after Godolphin’s Melbourne stable” Dilmi said today.

“With a number of Sydney boys going to Melbourne, it wasn’t easy to secure a lightweight jockey for Aix En Provence at 53kg.

“I had Wyong apprentice Anna Roper (booked for Louie’s Legacy) on standby, but she was taken the next day.

“I’m rapt that Dean has taken the mount.

“Unfortunately Aix En Provence has drawn poorly, but I’m still expecting him to run a nice race.”

It will be a special result if Dilmi can land Tuesday’s $3m feature with the five-year-old gelding, who provided him with his first winner (at Gosford on August 29) since taking over the Domeland operation on the Central Coast after Sara Ryan decided to go out as a public trainer.

Aix En Provence then won the Big Dance eligibility Bathurst Cup (1800m) on September 30.

Whilst the gelding hasn’t raced since, Dilmi has kept him up to the mark with a tick-over trial at Randwick on October 20.

Ridden by Andrew Adkins (his Bathurst Cup partner), he ran fourth to Scorched Lane in a 1050m heat without being put under any pressure in the straight.

Aix En Provence has won five (all at the provincials) of his 20 starts (and been placed seven times) and earned nearly $230,000. He fetched $160,000 as a 2022 Inglis Premier yearling in Melbourne.

Along with Dilmi, winning the Big Dance also would be a real triumph for Yendall.

After years of managing pain, he underwent hip resurfacing surgery last year, which helped restore his mobility and balance.

As with Aix En Provence, Dilmi also is chasing a hat-trick with Oceanfront, who makes his city debut in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m).

The lightly-raced four-year-old gelding has won his last two starts at Newcastle (1850m on October 2, and 1890m 16 days later).

In his latest success, he defeated Black Run, who confirmed the form with a gutsy Randwick victory yesterday.

Dylan Gibbons, who rode Oceanfront in his October 2 win at Newcastle, has the mount on Tuesday.

“Oceanfront is going well, and it’s time for him to step up to city grade,” Dilmi said.

“He has also drawn awkwardly with the rail out varying distances, so this will be a good test.”

. HOOFNOTE: Dilmi will be trying to emulate his predecessor Ryan, who capped the biggest of her 60 wins for Domeland by landing the 2023 Big Dance with the now retired Attractable ($19).

Gosford trainer Greg McFarlane was successful at yesterday’s Coffs Harbour TAB meeting with Scarlet Monarch.

Ridden by apprentice Jett Newman, the $1.60 favorite broke through in the Maiden Plate (810m) at her ninth start.

Story John Curtis, November 3, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos