DILMI LOOKING AHEAD TO THE BIG DANCE

NACIM Dilmi claimed his first feature win in yesterday’s Bathurst Cup – but won’t get the chance to win another at Newcastle on Friday.

Having recently taken over as Domeland’s private trainer at Wyong, Dilmi was hoping to start his recent Wyong Cup runner-up Salt Lake City in the $300,000 Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m).

“Unfortunately he pulled up a bit sore after Wyong,” Dilmi said today.

“He has gone for a break, and it’s a shame because I was keen to run him at Newcastle.”

Whilst obviously the news about Salt Lake City was disappointing, Dilmi is now looking further ahead to Royal Randwick on the first Tuesday in November.

Aix En Provence, the horse who gave him his first success in his new role by scoring at Gosford on August 29, won yesterday’s Bathurst Cup (1800m), which carried Big Dance Eligibility.

The $3m Big Dance (1600m) will be run at Randwick on November 4, and Dilmi will be trying to capture the race for Domeland for a second time.

Domeland’s previous trainer Sara Ryan, now training publicly at Wyong, captured the 2023 edition with Attractable (Regan Bayliss).

“The Bathurst Cup was a stepping stone for Aix En Provence, and a nice race to win,” Dilmi said.

“He has won me my first two races, so I will remember him for a long time.

“Now that he has become Big Dance Eligible, I will give him a short break in the paddock and then set about getting him ready for early November.”

Newcastle Jockey Club received a total of 80 entries for its three Group 3 features at Broadmeadow on Friday.

Eighteen horses were nominated for the $300,000 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), 29 for the $250,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m), and 33 for the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m).

Team Hawkes’ talented four-year-old Swift Falcon is the early $3.50 favorite with TAB.com.au for the Cameron, ahead of leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ Provincial-Midway Championships Final runner-up Lord Of Biscay at $5.

Lees also entered Tavi Time ($9), and other provincial nominations were Ruby Flyer (Brad Widdup), Churchill’s Choice (Nathan Doyle), and The Great Houdini (Greg McFarlane).

Doyle also nominated Churchill’s Choice and Wyong’s Mona Lisa Stakes runner-up Overriding for the Tibbie, along with Lees’ Imposant, fellow Newcastle trainer Paul Perry (Totoka) and Hawkesbury’s Mike Van Gestel (Dark Glitter).

Not surprisingly, bookmakers could not sort out an early Tibbie favorite, and this afternoon had Verona Rose and Snow In May equal top fancies at $6

Overriding and last Saturday’s Sheraco Stakes runner-up Dark Glitter were at $8.

HOOFNOTE: Newcastle’s The Everest second favorite Private Harry has been installed as a $2.30 favorite by TAB.com.au to make it six wins in a row in Saturday’s $1m Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick.

The Kurrinda Bloodstock and Yulong Investments unbeaten four-year-old, chasing a second Group 1 triumph, is ahead of last year’s Newcastle The Hunter winner Briasa ($3.50).

Story John Curtis, September 15, 2025