Knight’s Choice Triumphs in Melbourne Cup Fairytale Elevating Robbie Dolan and Sheila Laxon to Racing Glory

In a Melbourne Cup brimming with unexpected twists, few stories could rival the rise of Knight's Choice from a dark horse to a national hero. The 164th running of Australia's most celebrated race saw Knight's Choice, a Queensland outsider, claim victory, thrilling fans and delivering one of the sport’s most surprising finishes in years. The win marks a career-defining moment for jockey Robbie Dolan, a former reality TV contestant known as much for his singing as his riding skills, and legendary trainer Sheila Laxon, who became the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup in 2001.

From Reality TV to Racing Glory
Irish-born Dolan has spent the past few years in the public eye for his singing talents, notably making it to the quarter-finals on The Voice. But on Tuesday, he found himself in the winner’s circle, shedding tears of joy after his first Melbourne Cup triumph. “Pinch me, I’m dreaming,” Dolan exclaimed after pulling off a nail-biting photo finish to edge out Japanese competitor Warp Speed. “It’s incredible. I can’t believe it. I don’t even know what to say.” Dolan’s unlikely path to this win makes it all the more special, and his partnership with Laxon and co-trainer John Symons solidified their place in racing folklore.

The Journey of Knight’s Choice
Knight’s Choice hadn’t won a race in nearly a year and entered the Melbourne Cup as a 100-1 underdog. The Queensland-based gelding’s last outing was a modest fifth-place finish at the Bendigo Cup, but trainers Laxon and Symons saw potential others overlooked. Laxon, who broke barriers in 2001 by becoming the first female trainer to win the Cup with Ethereal, has now accomplished another historic feat, winning the Cup again with the unheralded Knight’s Choice. "It’s the people’s Cup, and that’s what it’s all about," Laxon said, savoring the achievement of claiming her second Cup title after 23 years.

Dolan’s race-day poise helped secure the win. Despite trailing by four lengths at the 400-meter mark, he strategically guided Knight’s Choice into a last-minute surge that saw them pass front-runners Warp Speed and Okita Soushi in the final stretch. “You can’t do it without Sheila and John,” Dolan remarked, attributing the victory to the training duo’s belief in the horse.

A Win for Australia
In recent years, the Melbourne Cup has been dominated by international entrants, making this win by an Australian-bred horse particularly significant. Knight's Choice is only the sixth Australian-bred horse to claim victory in the Melbourne Cup since 1993 and the first since Vow and Declare in 2019. Laxon celebrated the win as a patriotic triumph, saying, “The Australian horse has done it, and Robbie is Australian now as well, so I’m thrilled to win the Cup.”

Favourites Falter in the Shadow of Knight’s Choice
While Knight’s Choice dazzled, favourites like Buckaroo and Vauban fell short of expectations, finishing ninth and eleventh, respectively. Early leader Just Fine, trained by Gai Waterhouse, also faded dramatically in the final stretch, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the Cup.

In a thrilling conclusion, Knight's Choice’s victory encapsulated the Melbourne Cup’s spirit: a race where underdogs can rewrite history and where passion, skill, and belief converge in a spectacle watched by millions.