Dolan singing after Knightâs Choice claims Cup upset
Melbourne Cup debutant Robbie Dolan has had to fight back tears as he celebrated winning the race that stops a nation with rank outsider Knightâs Choice in a thrilling finish.
An 80-1 shot, Knightâs Choice prevailed by a nose for trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon from Japanese raider Warp Speed on Tuesday at Flemington.
Ciaron Maher-trained Okita Soushi was third, with global racing giant Godolphinâs Zardozi fourth.
Dolan produced what 2021 Cup-winning jockey James McDonald described as âone of the best rides Iâve ever seenâ in Australiaâs greatest race.
âI didnât know what to expect, but I feel like Iâve ridden it 10 times because I have ridden it in my head 100 times,â Dolan told broadcaster Nine post-race.
âTo win it with him (father Bobby) here and my little daughter Maisy and my partner Christine, Iâm going to cry again. Jesus Christ.
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âLook, you canât do it without (trainers) Sheila and John. They were so confident in this horse even before he got to this race.
âA lot of people doubted them. And to be honest, I didnât.â
It gave Queensland-based Symons and Laxon their first Cup triumph in partnership, after Laxon became the first female to train the winner with Ethereal in 2001.
âWhat a great ride by Robbie,â Symons told Nine.
âHe stayed in, took the risk, went through the pack.
âI was worried and he got further back than weâd talked about, but great ride.
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âWhat a thrill.â
Laxon said her latest win brought back vivid memories of Etherealâs triumph, and beamed with pride after Knightâs Choice upset the international contenders.
âYou know whatâs great? I love it being done for the Australians,â she said.
âThe Australian horse has done it and Robbieâs Australian now as well.
âIâm thrilled to win the Cup. Itâs the peopleâs cup and thatâs what itâs all about.â
A talented singer, Dolan appeared on The Voice in 2022 and performed Daryl Braithwaiteâs âThe Horsesâ at that yearâs Cox Plate.
âI think Iâll be singing for the rest of my life after that. What the hell,â the 28-year-old said.
Remarkably, it was a first Group 1 victory for five-year-old gelding Knightâs Choice, who finished fifth in his previous start at last weekâs Bendigo Cup.
â AAP
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