Melbourne Cup 2024: Knight’s Choice wins in photo finish from Warp Speed

Unheralded outsider Knight’s Choice has sprung one of the rudest shocks in Melbourne Cup history, edging out Warp Speed in a photo finish.

Riding in his first-ever Melbourne Cup, jockey Robbie Dolan helped the $61 outsider to produce a stunning late burst to edge home for trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon.

Dolan, who came to Australia from Ireland eight years ago, was lost for words after his victory.

“I feel like I’m going to wake up any minute. Can you pinch me? Jesus Christ!” Dolan said.

“I’ve never ridden in this race before, so I didn’t know what to expect, but I feel like I’ve ridden in it 10 times because I’ve run the race over in my head.

“I don’t even know what to say. I just don’t believe it.

“It’s just incredible.

“He’s only a small horse, but he gives his all every start. He’s proved a lot of people wrong.”

The five-year-old son of sprinting sire Extreme Choice had been considered virtually no chance to win, priced as long as $126 just days out from the race.

Okita Soushi finished third in a tightly-bunched field, while Zardozi was close behind in fourth.

Just Fine finished the race last, having spent much of the first half in the lead.

Vauban and Buckaroo entered the day as joint $7 favourites but were unable to salute, marking a 12th straight Melbourne Cup where the favourite has come up short. Buckaroo finished ninth, while Vauban was 11th.

The victory was the first for an Australian-bred horse since 2019 and gave Laxon a second Melbourne Cup winner, 23 years after her previous runner Ethereal saluted.

“What an amazing ride by Robbie. We didn’t give him instructions. He just knew what to do,” Laxon said.

“The Australian horse has done it. I’m thrilled to win the Cup. It’s the people’s Cup and it’s what it’s all about.”

Symons was similarly full of praise for Dolan, who was a contestant on singing show The Voice only two years ago.

“What an amazing ride by Robbie. We didn’t give him instructions. He just knew what to do,” Laxon said.

“The Australian horse has done it. I’m thrilled to win the Cup. It’s the people’s Cup and it’s what it’s all about.”

Dolan bode his time towards the end of the field with Knight’s Choice before runs began to develop out wide at the 800m. He attempted an inside passage, but had his run thwarted by Absurde ($11) who sprinted with greater zest.

Turning at the 500m, Knight’s Choice was under the pump and hadn’t made any material inroads but by the 400m, he had been galvanised into action by his hoop.

Immediately to his outside, Warp Speed ($26) was beginning a run in unison but the two were spotting a healthy start to Okita Soushi ($18) who had raced clear.

With 200m to go, Okita Soushi began to flag under pressure with Knight’s Choice and Warp Speed swerving their way through traffic and starting flashing efforts.

At the 75m mark, Knight’s Choice ripped to the front having shown the better turn of foot from Warp Speed, though the Japanese stayer’s toughness was evident.

But Dolan had timed the dash of Knight’s Choice to utter perfection and despite a desperate, heart-rending final lunge from Warp Speed, the Australian clung on to score by a half-head.

Arguably the world’s current best jockey James McDonald, who was left without a Cup ride, lavished praise on the Irish-born hoop’s steer.

“Not only have you won the Melbourne Cup, you’ve done it with one of the best rides I’ve ever seen in the Melbourne Cup coming from that far back,” McDonald said.