The Tamworth Cup could be a ticket to The Big Dance.
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As had been widely speculated, Friday's $200,000 feature will offer an extra incentive with the race confirmed as one of the eligible races for The Big Dance.
Racing NSW on Tuesday announced the eligibility and conditions, and the 25 Country Cups from which the field for the $2 million race, to be held at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day will be drawn from.
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The winners and second-placed horses will be eligible with benchmark rating at the time of final acceptances to be used to determine the final field from the pool of eligible horses, with the winners receiving preference over any second placegetters.
The 2021 Armidale Cup won by the Troy O'Neile-trained Beckford from Stirling Osland's Point Counterpoint is also one of the eligible races, as is the recently-run Muswellbrook Gold Cup (April 1) and upcoming Scone Cup (May 13).
A Wild Card race will also be run at Royal Randwick on October 8, with the winner and second placed horse from the Wild Card becoming eligible for The Big Dance and exempt from the ballot.
The Big Dance will be contested over 1600m under quality handicap conditions.
Big Dance 2022 Qualifying Races: Goulburn Cup (31-Oct-21) 1400m; Snake Gully Cup (12-Nov-21) 1400m; Taree Cup (21-Nov-21) 2000m; Mudgee Cup (3-Dec-21) 1600m; Nowra (5-Dec-21) Nowra Cup 1600m; Armidale Cup (12-Dec-21) 1600m, Moruya Cup (3-Jan-22) 1425m; Ballina Cup (14-Jan-22) 1590m; Bega Cup (30-Jan-22) 1600m; Albury Gold Cup (25-Mar-22) 2000m, Muswellbrook Gold Cup (1-Apr-22) 1450m; Orange Gold Cup (8-Apr-22) 2100m; Tamworth Cup (22-Apr-22) 1400m; Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (6-May-22) 2000m; Scone Cup (13-May-22) 1600m; Wellington Cup (29-May-22) 1700m; South Grafton Cup (10-Jul-22) 1600m; Forbes Cup (31-Jul-22) 1600m; Coffs Harbour Cup (4-Aug-22) 1600m; Murwillumbah Cup (19-Aug-22) 1550m; Dubbo Gold Cup (11-Sep-22) 1600m; Lismore Cup (22-Sep-22) 2100m; Bathurst Cup (25-Sep-22) 1800m; Port Macquarie Cup (7-Oct-22) 2000m; Big Dance Wildcard (8-Oct-22) 1600m; Coonamble Cup (9-Oct-22) 1600m.
