The inaugural $2million ATC The Big Dance (1600m) has been another great initiative by Racing NSW and drew a big field of 20 at Randwick on Tuesday with Deep Field gelding Rustic Steel claiming the prize with a tenacious performance.
Spelled after winning the Listed Scone Cup and $500,000 The Coast at Gosford last preparation, the Kris Lees trained Rustic Steel has been gradually working back to form.
He was strong to the line for Nash Rawiller under his 59.5 kg, holding off Cisco Bay to win by a neck taking his overall record to eight wins from 17 starts with prizemoney topping $1.7million.
"He really is a good horse. He qualified through the Scone Cup. That was on a six day turnaround off The Coast, so we put him away with this race in mind,” said Kris Lees.
“He got a lovely ride from Nash. He had plenty of horse underneath him. He got him into clear air straightening up. I knew he'd be strong, but was little concerned that last 100m, but he had enough in the tank."
Nash Rawiller was thrilled to get the win.
"It was a high pressure race. They all wanted to be there. He got into rhythm mid-race and I was happy where we were,” he said.
“He let go with a great turn of foot at the start of the straight. I was vulnerable late, that last 100m felt like 400m but felt credit to all involved with him. He was able to go right to the line.
"I couldn't win an Everest or a Golden Eagle, but pretty happy with a Big Dance."
A $500,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for Tasman Bloodstock, Rustic Steel runs for Ron and Judy Wanless.
Foaled and raised at Newgate, Rustic Steel is the best of three winners from Ten Carat Rock, an unraced sibling to Group I winners Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors.
Ten Carat Rock has had a few ownership changes, most recently when bought by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $400,000 from Newgate at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
