Craig Kerry
Regan Bayliss believes Fully Lit is going better than ever as the jockey chases another career-best cheque in the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Tuesday.
Bayliss, a six-time group 1 winner, scored his richest race victory when steering the Sara Ryan-trained Attractable to victory in the 2023 Big Dance with an on-pace ride from gate seven.
This year, Bayliss reunites with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Fully Lit, which led the group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) last start before finishing three and three-quarter lengths eighth with Winona Costin riding at 51 kilograms.
Bayliss has been on the five-year-old at his other three starts this preparation, which has been a comeback from surgery to remove a knee bone chip. The runs have included a front-running win in the group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle to qualify for Tuesday’s race.
A draw in 18, which will come into 15 with emergencies out, will make it tougher for Bayliss to give Fully Lit ($10 TAB) a similar ride in a race stacked with speed, but he remained hopeful.
“He’s in terrific form,” said Bayliss, who won the 2024 $2 million Inglis Millennium aboard Fully Lit.
“In the Epsom, the fence was racing a little bit off that day, which probably didn’t suit him, but I think he’s going better than ever.
“I would like to have drawn a little bit of a softer barrier on him, but he’s got the tactical speed to overcome that and he’ll be in it for a long way.
“He’s had a month between runs, and a nice little takeover trial, and he felt terrific. It’s got that big race feel about it, the Big Dance. Obviously, it’s got plenty of prize money, big field, the Randwick mile, so it was an exciting race and looking forward to riding in it again.”
The Cameron Handicap win with Fully Lit was one of three group 3 successes this season for Bayliss, who also combined with Redfox Racing and the Waterhouse-Bott stable to take out the Up And Coming and Stakes with Plagiarism and the Breeders’ Plate with Flying Houdini.
Bayliss also better claims in the $750,000 Little Dance with Ciaron Maher-trained I’mintowin, a $3.10 favourite from gate five. The seven-year-old was just over a length away from Fully Lit in the Cameron. Bayliss won on I’mintowin when the Darby Racing gelding was at Tulloch Lodge and he was pleased to back aboard.
“There’s a great sense of timing about him, I think. He’s come up terrific this preparation,” he said. “I’ve had a little bit to do with the horse, and I thought that his run the other day was good with a big weight.
“He drops in weight, he’s got a lovely barrier. I think he’ll be hard to beat. There’s great form around him, and he looks very well-placed to win there.”
