Former The Voice contestant wins Melbourne Cup
A former The Voice contestant has won the Melbourne Cup.
Two years ago, Robbie Dolan, who was in Rita Ora's team, placed in the top 24 of The Voice Australia, and now he has celebrated an even bigger win after taking home the Melbourne Cup.
Dolan, who was born in Ireland and is a keen jockey, first moved to Australia in 2016 when he was still figuring out his career path.
“I came here eight years ago with an ambition of just having a crack,” the 28-year-old told the Today show on Wednesday morning.
“Really just having a go, working hard and seeing what happens – and I’m sitting here with the Melbourne Cup.”
While he had little luck on the reality TV show as he got eliminated in the sing-offs, his horse racing career has been more fruitful.
Dolan started his career at the age of 17 in Ireland, where he participated in a nine-month training program and worked as an apprentice for about three seasons before trying his luck in Australia.
Both his father and grandfather were successful riders in Ireland and it seems that racing is in his blood, after he and his five-year-old gelding Knight’s Choice pushed past Zardozi and nudged Warp Speed out of the winning spot 20m before the finish line.
While he has celebrated the big win, the jockey remains humble as he revealed the key to winning the Cup was "a lot of luck".
“You know, I just needed the runs to open in front of me, and thankfully they did," he said on the Today show.
Plus, it helps when you've got a “good little horse” like Knight’s Choice. “He’s an underrated little horse and proved a lot of people wrong yesterday.”
As for his singing career Dolan may need to give it a rest for the time being, saying: “My voice is half gone from last night."
Images: Instagram