Melbourne Cup Shocker: 100/1 Knight’s Choice Stuns Rivals in Photo Finish Victory

In a jaw-dropping twist, 100/1 outsider Knight’s Choice shocked the Melbourne Cup field, capturing the 164th running of Australia’s iconic race. This unexpected win saw the local hopeful, steered by jockey Robbie Dolan, narrowly defeat Japanese challenger Warp Speed in a heart-pounding photo finish, with Okita Soushi claiming third in the intense final moments.

Knight’s Choice entered the race with long odds, paying as much as $101 on fixed bets, making this win the most improbable since 2015’s triumph by Prince of Penzance. The unexpected victory was a career milestone for Dolan, an Irish-born jockey now based in Queensland who gained national fame as a contestant on The Voice. Elated after the race, Dolan exclaimed, “I’ll be singing for the rest of my life after that! It’s amazing, and so many doubted this little horse.”

The victory was also a nostalgic win for co-trainer Sheila Laxon, who now holds her second Melbourne Cup title—23 years after her first with Ethereal in 2001. Laxon praised Dolan’s exceptional skill, sharing, “We gave him no instructions; he knew exactly what to do. The Australian horse has done it, and it’s wonderful to win the Cup, the people’s Cup.”

2024 Melbourne Cup Dividends (SuperTAB Tote Prices):
1st - Knight’s Choice $63.50 win, $17.80 place
2nd - Warp Speed $9.30 place
3rd - Okita Soushi $4.80 place

The Melbourne Cup’s festivities also saw standout performances in other races, with multiple upsets. In Race 1, Tycoon Star ($16) claimed victory, and in Race 5, rank outsider Garachico delivered a significant surprise, winning the Australian Heritage Cup at $67 odds. Jockey James McDonald also showcased his skill, winning his fifth race of the carnival in the Subzero Handicap on Cloudland.

As the main event drew near, odds shifted frequently, with favourites Buckaroo and Onesmoothoperator vying for top positions. Ultimately, jockey William Buick expressed confidence in his mount, Vauban, despite last year’s lacklustre finish. Buick believes the horse, competing at his ideal two-mile distance, could be primed for success this time.

However, the field’s pre-race tension took a sombre turn when Athabascan, another long shot, was withdrawn following medical concerns. Racing Victoria officials confirmed the horse exhibited a cardiac arrhythmia during pre-race checks, leading to a safety-driven decision to scratch him from the race.

With Knight’s Choice capturing this unforgettable win, the Melbourne Cup’s legacy of unexpected victories continues, forever immortalizing a horse that defied all odds.