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By Ray Hickson

She’s a racing institution and Barbara Joseph didn't reach that level of respect in her career by backing away from a challenge.

Barbara Joseph with her sons Matt and Paul Jones.

It’s going to be a challenge for either Super Helpful or Louie’s Legacy to win the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Tuesday but Joseph and her sons will be there trying their best.

It’s the same attitude that led her to her first Group 1 victory back in 1989 when Merimbula Bay won the Doncaster Mile over the same course.

At that time Matt Jones, her son and co-trainer along with brother Paul, was 19 and he recalled how Joseph was encouraged to take the easy option but refused.

“They told her not to run in the Doncaster, he was favourite for the Country Cup midweek and she said 'no we’re going to the Doncaster',’’ Jones said.

“She said it’s not often you qualify for a race like that and she won it.

“We aim for the Big Dance every year. Both our horses love the wet so with the rain around we’re going to be a bit of a chance with no weight on our back.

“You’ve got to be in it to win it.”

The Joseph Jones team are one of two country trainers to have had a Big Dance runner in each year, the other being Matthew Dunn.

One Aye ran seventh in the inaugural edition in 2022, Super Helpful finished third in 2023 and they also ran Manderboss while Zouatica contested the race last year.

If Super Helpful finishes in the top 10 on Tuesday he’ll pass the $1 million in prizemoney earned and Jones said his recent form suggests he can be competitive.

He was a $19 chance two years ago when chasing home Attractable and Cepheus but is ignored as a $101 chance in 2025.

The seven-year-old, who won the Nowra Cup in December to be eligible again, ran third to Sun God and Big Dance rival Cristal Clear at Warwick Farm before running fourth behind Fortune at Randwick just over a week ago.

“He was just behind Cristal Clear, probably should have nearly beat it after he got held up behind them,'' Jones said.

“He’s going great, his last couple of runs have been really good and he’s back on track."

Louie’s Legacy won the Forbes Cup in August and despite being an $81 chance last start at Warwick Farm he pleased the stable running into fourth behind Dance To The Boom a couple of weeks ago.

Jones concedes he’s probably the lesser chance of the two but on the plus side he will appreciate getting back to the mile on a forgiving track.

“I wish Louie was in the Little Dance, he would have given it a shake, but they’re both going the right way,’’ he said.

“We couldn’t be happier with him, he’s on the way up. He’s a little champ, his heart’s as big as Phar Lap and his record in the country is unbelievable.”

Joseph, affectionately known as the ‘Baroness of Bombala’ is 80 and earlier this year almost pulled off another big Randwick Group 1 when Sun 'N' Sand was run down in the shadows by Treasurethe Moment in the Australian Oaks.

Jones said while the Big Dance isn’t a Group 1 it’s a $3 million race and he’d like nothing more than for his mother to snare another ‘big one’ before she retires – not that retirement has been mooted at all.

Super Helpful runs fourth at Randwick on October 25

“It’d be awesome, Sun 'N' Sand in the Oaks was a thrill,’’ he said.

“If they can run top four or five it’d blow our mind. If we could win it I’d retire with her.

“The Big Dance gave her another lease on life. If you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best.”

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