“Pinch me, I’m dreaming”. The race that stops a nation… and which crowns an Irish jockey-singer. During the night from Monday to Tuesday (in France), Knight’s Choice caused one of the biggest surprises in the history of the Melbourne Cup by winning at odds of 99/1 but above all made Robbie Dolan, finalist of “The Voice” Australia, triumph. Coming from a horse racing family, his father Bobby Dolan being part of the Irish stable of the famous Dermot Weld, the 28-year-old jockey hit the headlines by almost going to the end of tele-hook in 2022. “It’s incredible. I can’t believe it. I don’t even know what to say”, he told local television before continuing: “I’ve watched every Melbourne Cup over the last 40 years. I thought my best chance was to wait and get him to finish quickly on a good part of the track. He proved everyone wrong”. Abandoned to betting given his latest performances, the horse, after having waited for a long time at the rear, came to put his nose on the post. This unexpected success also honors her New Zealand coach Sheila Laxon, who 23 years ago was the first woman to lift this trophy, but also her husband John Symons. The favorites were unable to respond and in particular the “FR” Vauban. Trained by Irishman Willie Mullins, he had to settle for eleventh place.
