- A packed house of more than 90,000 people packed into Flemington for the cup
- A small group of 23 horses faced the exciting 3,200 m circuit.
- Away shocked the field with a thrilling victory.
Ranked outsider Knight’s Choice has claimed the 2024 Melbourne Cup with a photo finish, beating Japanese raider Warp Speed by a hair.
Irish-born, Queensland-based jockey Robbie Dolan, who rose to fame as a singer on Australian reality show The Voice, powered the 64-1 shot to victory, beating Warp Speed and third-place Okita Soushi .
“After that, I’ll sing for the rest of my life,” Dolan said.
‘It’s incredible. I can’t believe it. I don’t even know what to say.’
Jockey Robbie Dolan waves to the crowd after winning the 2024 Melbourne Cup on Knight’s Choice ahead of Warp Speed and Okita Soushi.
‘I’ve watched every Melbourne Cup for the last 40 years. “I thought my best chance was to get him to stay on the trip and hopefully he can run home and do the fast sections he can on a good track and he proved everyone wrong,” Dolan continued.
‘I can’t put it into words. It is the largest race in the world. I’ve got my family here and my partner Christine, our little Maisy and my dad flew in from Ireland and now you’ve got me crying.’
Knight’s Choice became the longest shot to win the Melbourne Cup since Michelle Payne steered Prince of Penzance to victory in 2015.
Knight’s Choice beats Warp Speed in a photo finish to win the 2024 Melbourne Cup
While the crowd at Flemington was stunned by the result, coach John Symons said it was no surprise to him.
“We wouldn’t have been here if we didn’t think we could,” he said.
‘What a great ride Robbie had. I took a chance and checked out the herd. I was worried. It came further back than we had talked about, but it was a great trip. What a thrill. What a thrill.
“Look, you know, you work with these horses 24/7, and you know where you have them, and you’d be disappointed if they didn’t have a good run.”
“You know, in what position, in the top five in a race like this, you have to come out happy.” Winning it is a dream come true.”
Warp Speed and Okita Soushi were battling for the win when they were surprised by Dolan and his Knight’s Choice ride.
Stunned spectators at Flemington Racecourse couldn’t believe what they were seeing when the long shot of 64-1 claimed victory.
Co-trainer Sheila Laxon, who also trained Ethereal to Melbourne Cup glory in 2001, said Dolan was now an honorary Australian.
“I love being down for the Aussies. The Australian horse has done it, and Robbie is now an Australian too, so I’m delighted to win the Cup, and it’s the People’s Cup and that’s what it’s all about,” she said.
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