Robbie Dolan insists he could easily have given up riding to pursue a singing career before a stunning Melbourne Cup victory aboard rank outsider Knight’s Choice in the race that stops a nation.
Timing his run perfectly, Dolan steered 80-1 shot Knight’s Choice through heavy traffic at Flemington on Tuesday to win the $8.5 million feature by a nose for trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon from Japanese raider Warp Speed.
Ciaron Maher-trained Okita Soushi was third, with global racing giant Godolphin’s Zardozi fourth across the line as a photo decided all placings.
Irish expat Dolan produced what 2021 Cup-winning jockey James McDonald described as “one of the best rides I’ve ever seen” in Australia’s greatest race at his first attempt.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but I feel like I’ve ridden it 10 times because I have ridden it in my head 100 times,” Dolan told broadcaster Nine as he fought back tears post-race.
“To win it with him (father Bobby) here and my little daughter Maisie and my partner Christine, I’m going to cry again. Jesus Christ.
“Look, you can’t do it without (trainers) Sheila and John. They were so confident in this horse even before he got to this race.”
Dolan – from County Kildare, west of Dublin – moved with his family to Australia eight years ago and had originally planned to stay for 12 months but fell in love with the country.
A talented vocalist, the 28-year-old appeared on The Voice in 2022 and performed Daryl Braithwaite’s unofficial Cox Plate anthem ‘The Horses’ at The Valley that year.
Dolan was embraced by fellow Irish singer Ronan Keating – who entertained the huge Flemington crowd pre-race – after pulling off one of the Cup’s great upsets.
“I will be singing tonight after a few beers,” Dolan said.
“It’s amazing and a lot of people doubted this little horse. Doubt me now.”
Dolan’s father Bobby worked in Ireland for two-time Cup-winning trainer Dermot Weld for 26 years, and surprised his son when he jetted into Australia during the build-up.
Dolan, who first sat on a horse “at 16 or 17”, had his patience tested earlier in his career but ultimately stuck to the task and has now reaped huge rewards.
“I could’ve easily given up riding to do music but I just loved it too much,” Dolan said.
“At one stage I was struggling to get a few rides and I just thought I’ll just do music on the side.
“But I missed riding winners, I missed the camaraderie with the jockeys in the room.
“I was never going to give it up. It’s in my blood to be a jockey and here we are.”
Remarkably, the Melbourne Cup was a first Group 1 victory for five-year-old gelding Knight’s Choice, who finished fifth in his previous start at last week’s Bendigo Cup.
It gave Queensland-based Symons and Laxon their first Cup triumph in partnership, after Laxon became the first female to win the Cups double with Ethereal in 2001.
“What a great ride by Robbie. He stayed in, took the risk, went through the pack,” Symons told Nine.
“I was worried when he got further back than we’d talked about, but great ride. What a thrill.”
New Zealand expat Laxon has now had two Cup runners for a perfect record and said her latest win brought back vivid memories of Kiwi mare Ethereal’s triumph.
She claimed it as a win for “Aussie battlers”, beaming with pride after the Australian-bred Knight’s Choice upset more powerful training operations and the international contenders.
“You know what’s great? I love it being done for the Australians,” she said.
“The Australian horse has done it and Robbie’s Australian now as well.
“I’m thrilled to win the Cup. It’s the people’s cup and that’s what it’s all about.”
The win was a huge result for the connections of Knight’s Choice, who previously knocked back a $2.3 million offer to sell the horse.
Race favourite Buckaroo finished ninth, three-and-a-half lengths back from Knight’s Choice, as the second of champion trainer Chris Waller’s five runners past the post, marginally behind Land Legend.
Ridden by in-form Jamie Kah, Okita Soushi was the first of Maher’s four hopes, less than a length behind the winner.
Irish master Willie Mullins’ Absurde finished fifth, while one-time favourite Vauban again failed to impress in 11th, after finishing 14th as the favourite last year.
