Cepheus primed for Big Dance tilt after Rowley Mile victory at Hawkesbury

Eight-year-old gelding Cepheus will return for the Big Dance and his win in the Rowley Mile showed he can go one better this year.

Cepheus and jockey Nash Rawiller hold off the chasing pack to win the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Cepheus showed he is going to be hard to beat again in the $3 million Big Dance after his impressive win at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

The Matthew Dunn-trained Cepheus led most of the way under Nash Rawiller to win the Listed $200,000 Rowley Mile (1600m).

Dunn confirmed Cepheus is being aimed at the Big Dance over the Royal Randwick mile course on Melbourne Cup Day, the first Tuesday in November.

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Cepheus contested the Big Dance last year carrying 62kg and ran a close second to Attractable.

Champion jockey Nash Rawiller controlled the race tempo on leader Cepheus ($7) who shouldered topweight of 60kg and defied his opposition to win by nearly a length from the fast-finishing Lion’s Roar ($8) with Williamsburg ($2.40 favourite) a head away third after having every chance.

A wonderful win to Cepheus in the Rowley Mile at @hawkesburyrc today!@[e-mail]/3tzLw93zyy

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 22, 2024

Cepheus scored his ninth win from 36 starts and took his career earnings to nearly $2.5 million with his Rowley Mile success.

“I feel there are plenty more wins in store for this horse,’’ Dunn told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“He just needs firm tracks.

“Nash has a good relationship with the horse and rode him well. It was a nice confidence boost for the hrose.

“Cepheus has done an incredible job for the last the last two years and we will keep him ticking over going into the spring.’’

Dunn suggested Cepheus might follow a similar program to the Big Dance that he had last year which yielded wins in the Shannon Stakes and Alan Brown Stakes before his second placing at Randwick.

Cepheus, an eight-year-old gelding by English champion Sea The Stars, qualified for the Big Dance when he won the South Grafton Cup last month.

Rawiller described Cepheus as “a real iron horse, a real warhorse”.

“He’s been a great old horse and always gives his all,’’ Rawiller said.

Originally published as Cepheus primed for Big Dance tilt after Rowley Mile victory at Hawkesbury