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By Ray Hickson

Nacim Dilmi is still in awe of the opportunity he’s been given to train horses for Domeland and even moreso that he finds himself in the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Tuesday just three months into the job.

Trainer Nacim Dilmi (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The 38-year-old worked in the Godolphin system for eight years prior to taking over from Sara Ryan and it’s somewhat fitting Aix En Provence has taken him to the Big Dance.

This was the race that announced Ryan to many in 2023 through Attractable’s win.

Dilmi is realistic that Aix En Provence is up against it in what is easily his biggest test but for the trainer his presence in the race is a sign things are going well.

“I pinch myself, I’ve been here three months and it’s been about two months where I’ve had my own runners,’’ he said.

“I didn’t think I’d have a winner in the first month let alone six in the first two months.

“The horses are running well, I’m happy with where they are at and hopefully things continue.

“Sara had those horses from day dot, some horses took a while to adapt because the way I train is very different to Sara but he was very straightforward.”

Aix En Provence was Dilmi’s first winner, that came at the end of August in a Gosford Benchmark 68.

The Big Dance wasn’t in his thoughts when he pencilled in the Bathurst Cup for the gelding’s next start but after he took home the trophy it had to be considered.

He didn’t want to run the horse in the race for the sake of it but the owners were willing to have a shot and left it to Dilmi to make the call, after a short break the call was an easy one.

“Originally when I targeted the Bathurst Cup it wasn’t the plan to run there just to have a run in the Big Dance. It was a suitable race for the horse,’’ he said.

“He tries very hard, he’s in good form and he’s trained on well.

“It’ll be his grand final and if he can perform as well as he did in his last two starts and run a big race it’d be great for the stable.

“He’s the type of horse that probably wants 1800m plus and at a mile at Randwick you do need a horse that can perform beyond a mile.”

If the Big Dance wasn’t a tough enough ask, Aix En Provence has to jump from near the outside in the capacity field of 20.

If it wasn’t a Big Dance he’d probably not see the gate as such a big deal but when you’re taking on horses with Group 1 form you need every edge you can get.

“Unfortunately the barrier hasn’t gone with us and it was hard to find a light rider, it was very tricky but I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with Dean Yendall from the Godolphin days and he’s a natural light rider,’’ he said.

“Not that I wanted barrier 20 but he’s the type of horse that goes forward and you don’t want him blocked and cluttered for a run.

“He might be able to get up there without doing too much work.

“The horse is in good form, it’ll be tough but we might as well give it a try.”

Dilmi is upbeat about the chances of a promising staying type in Oceanfront in the Midway Handicap (1800m) to open the Big Dance card.

The lightly raced four-year-old is chasing a hat-trick after successive wins at Newcastle in October and the form out of his latest win in the Cessnock Cup had a significant upgrade when Black Run won at Randwick last weekend.

He accounted for that horse comfortably over 1890m.

Aix En Provence wins the Bathurst Cup

“I have no doubt he can repeat the run, I’d love him to win,’’ he said.

“He’s kept running well as he’s stepped up in distance. At both his last runs he’s missed the kick and still won quite impressively.

“He galloped on the grass on Tuesday and he has a great turn of foot. I’m confident of him running a big race."

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Big Dance meeting at Randwick