Guide to all the horses, tips, predictions as main race starts at 3pm; Betting markets favour Al Riffa, Half Yours, Presage Nocturne

A Melbourne connection, of sorts, opened up the Big Dance program at Royal Randwick earlier today, when Oceanfront gave Nacim Dilmi a first city winner as a head trainer.

Dilmi is the former Melbourne foreman for Godolphin, which switched from a private to a public training model this season. The Frenchman has taken the reins of the Central Coast-based Domeland operation from Sara Ryan, who has gone out on her own.

Oceanfront, a $9.50 TAB chance, surged to a two-and-a-quarter-lengths win over favourite Natoya under Dylan Gibbons.

The Randwick track started the day rated a heavy 8 after overnight rain, but officials were confident of an upgrade in windy conditions.

Later, Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson’s four-year-old mare Petticoat took her second Highway Handicap win at Randwick.

Petticoat, a $1.70 favourite, dominated the class 3 over 1000 metres by three lengths for apprentice Anna Roper. Dodson said Petticoat would likely go for a small break before aiming up for the Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m) in January on the Gold Coast.

There was another Melbourne connection this afternoon, as Victorian trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes get on the board at Randwick on Cup Day, with Carbonados taking out the benchmark 84 handicap (1200m) thanks to a brave ride from Nash Rawiller.

Well-backed into a $2.70 favourite for the third race, Carbonados was held up behind runners before Rawiller pushed him through a narrow gap on the way to a 1¾-length win over Hueristic.