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Dolan not taking another Cup chance for granted

Robbie Dolan and Knight’s Choice shocked Flemington last year, and the Irish jockey is hopeful of doing it again.

Jockey : ROBBIE DOLAN after winning the Melbourne Cup.
Jockey : ROBBIE DOLAN after winning the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

There are some factors different to the scene that saw Robbie Dolan push longshot Knight's Choice across the line to win the Melbourne Cup last year, but even after that victory, he still is not taking his ride on Royal Supremacy for granted at Flemington on Tuesday.

"Last year it was scorching weather, this year it is raining," Dolan said.

"Last year I came here on a 200-1 pop and was happy to be involved, and now my horse is 25 or 30-1 and I am still just as happy to be involved."

It has been a whirlwind year for Irish-born Dolan who among race riding, guest appearances and opportunities to sing, he still found time to get back to Ireland to share the Cup and extend the moment with his family.

"I left there nine years ago with no expectations of ever being involved in the Melbourne Cup so you really have to enjoy it," Dolan added.

"You never know if you'll get the chance again."

That chance has come again as Dolan will be aboard the Ciaron Maher-trained Royal Supremacy in this Group 1 3200-metre feature after the gelding took out the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick on October 4.

The four-year-old could become the first galloper to complete that double since Macdougal in 1959.

"He's a horse that gets keen, he's got barrier 21 and he hasn't been tested on wet ground so you have to do the little things right in the early stages in the race," Dolan said.

"From all accounts the horse is going well and if Ciaron Maher is happy, I'm happy.

"There are some races that not many jockeys get the chance to ride in and I am so honoured to be here."

Royal Supremacy is rated a $26 chance for the Melbourne Cup with Al Riffa and Half Yours sharing favouritism a $7.50.


Racing and Sports

Flemington

Tuesday, 04th November 2025

7
ET

Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1)

Age: 3yo and up WT: 112lbs Type: OPEN
2 m TURF SOFT
7

(local)
AUD $10,000,000
2 m SOFT

Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1)

Age: 3yo and up WT: 112lbs Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 14. HALF YOURS (AUS) 5yo G
ST JEAN (IRE) - LA GAZELLE (AUS)
JAMIE MELHAM
TONY & CALVIN MCEVOY
$9
53kg
Kildalton Park Racing (Mgr: D Gordon), J B Biasin, D J Canny, G M Fox, Mrs G M Smith, J M Simmons, N B Smith, P R Farley, S M George, Terrace No 3 (Mgr: R H Allert) & A Guoga

Sales Information

2nd 20. GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) 6yo M
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - FITS LIKE A GLOVE (IRE)
W M LORDAN
JOSEPH O'BRIEN
$41
51.5kg
J P McManus
3rd 7. MIDDLE EARTH (GB) 5yo G
ROARING LION (USA) - ROHERYN (IRE)
ETHAN BROWN
CIARON MAHER
$26
54.5kg
Madica, M Johnston, Deg Racing, Porter Pelchen Bloodstock Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, A Kheir, Sneesby Racing No Whip Required, B P Fisher, T A Ginnane, D J House, A S Ingersole, L H Mckenzie, G A McLaren, D J O'Connor, B L Shannon, P A Vawdrey, P G Walsh, Middle Earth & Collendina Legends
4th 21. RIVER OF STARS (IRE) 6yo M
SEA THE STARS (IRE) - AMAZONE (GER)
BEAU MERTENS
CHRIS WALLER
$19
51.5kg

Sales Information

5th 23. TORRANZINO (NZ) 6yo G
TARZINO (NZ) - GOLDILICIOUS (NZ)
CELINE GAUDRAY
PAUL PREUSKER
$31
51kg

Sales Information

6th 4. VAUBAN (FR) 7yo G
GALIWAY (GB) - WALDFEST (GB)
BLAKE SHINN
GAI WATERHOUSE & ADRIAN BOTT
$21
56.5kg
7th 1. AL RIFFA (FR) 5yo H
WOOTTON BASSETT (GB) - LOVE ON MY MIND (IRE)
MARK ZAHRA
JOSEPH O'BRIEN
$8
59kg

Sales Information

8th 9. ABSURDE (FR) 7yo G
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - INCROYABLE (USA)
KERRIN MCEVOY
WILLIE MULLINS
$19
53.5kg

Sales Information

9th 13. CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) 6yo G
GALILEO (IRE) - LADY LARA (IRE)
TIM CLARK
KRIS LEES
$61
53kg
10th 8. MEYDAAN (IRE) 4yo G
FRANKEL (GB) - NEZWAAH (GB)
JAMES MCDONALD
SIMON & ED CRISFORD
$26
54kg
11th 17. FURTHUR (IRE) 3yo C
WALDGEIST (GB) - DANAMIGHT (IRE)
MICHAEL DEE
ANDREW BALDING
$41
52kg

Sales Information

12th 3. ARAPAHO (FR) 8yo G
LOPE DE VEGA (IRE) - ALZUBRA (GB)
RACHEL KING
BJORN BAKER
$31
56.5kg

Sales Information

13th 10. FLATTEN THE CURVE (FR) 6yo G
ZARAK (FR) - LAILOMA (FR)
THORE HAMMER-HANSEN
HENK GREWE
$21
53.5kg

Sales Information

14th 12. SMOKIN' ROMANS (NZ) 9yo G
GHIBELLINES (AUS) - INFERNO (NZ)
BEN MELHAM
CIARON MAHER
$61
53.5kg

Sales Information

15th 22. ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) 4yo G
MAKE BELIEVE (GB) - ADELASIA (IRE)
ROBBIE DOLAN
CIARON MAHER
$31
51kg

Sales Information

16th 24. VALIANT KING (GB) 5yo G
ROARING LION (USA) - ASSEMBLY (USA)
JYE MCNEIL
CHRIS WALLER
$9
51kg

Sales Information

16th 16. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) 7yo G
DIALED IN (USA) - SUENO D'ORO (USA)
HARRY COFFEY
BRIAN ELLISON
$41
53kg

Sales Information

18th 15. MORE FELONS (IRE) 6yo G
CHURCHILL (IRE) - PIVOTALIA (IRE)
TOMMY BERRY
CHRIS WALLER
$41
53kg

Sales Information

19th 6. PRESAGE NOCTURNE (IRE) 5yo H
WOOTTON BASSETT (GB) - KYUREM (IRE)
STEPHANE PASQUIER
ALESSANDRO BOTTI
$5.5
55.5kg

Sales Information

20th 18. PARCHMENT PARTY (USA) 4yo H
CONSTITUTION (USA) - LIFE WELL LIVED (USA)
JOHN R VELAZQUEZ
WILLIAM I MOTT
$61
52kg

Sales Information

21st 19. ATHABASCAN (FR) 6yo G
ALMANZOR (FR) - ALZUBRA (GB)
DECLAN BATES
JOHN O'SHEA & TOM CHARLTON
$71
51.5kg
22nd 11. LAND LEGEND (FR) 5yo G
GALILEO (IRE) - LANDIKUSIC (IRE)
JOAO MOREIRA
CHRIS WALLER
$61
53.5kg

Sales Information

23rd 5. CHEVALIER ROSE (JPN) 7yo H
DEEP IMPACT (JPN) - VIANE ROSE (FR)
DAMIAN LANE
HISASHI SHIMIZU
$51
55.5kg
24th 2. BUCKAROO (GB) 6yo G
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - ROHERYN (IRE)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
CHRIS WALLER
$14
57kg