Knight’s Choice springs massive Melbourne Cup upset

Knight’s Order has claimed victory in the 2024 Melbourne Cup, with the rank outsider delivering Sunshine Coast-based trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon one of the biggest wins of their careers.

Laxon has now won two editions of the great race at Flemington, having etched her name into Cup folklore as the first female trainer to win the 3200m classic when Ethereal saluted in 2001.

Knight’s Choice, who was ridden by Robbie Dolan, didn’t bring the greatest form in the Cup and was sent out at a massive +9000 quote with horse racing bookmakers, yet connections were always confident in the horse.

The race was run at a strong tempo throughout with Just Fine (+3000) leading the field past the winning post for the first time, followed by Circle Of Fire (+2000), Land Legend (+1400) and Okita Soushi (+1800).

Very little changed down the back straight, with each of the 23 jockeys getting their horse into a rhythm before gearing up to make a final run.

Just Fine lifted the speed at the 500m mark, and the runs from the middle of the pack began to come, with Zardozi (+1300) and Okita Soushi surging to the lead at the 300m pole.

Buckaroo (+500), the race favourite with Bovada, let go with his finish out in the middle of the track, but it was back on the inside of runners, where Warp Speed (+2500) and the eventual winner were finishing off stronger than anything else.

Those two took a split between the leading duo as Knight’s Choice took a slender lead in the final 75m, but he still had to fight off the Japanese raider, who continued to drive in the shadows of the winning post.

The judge called for a photo on the finish line, but it was Knight’s Choice who held a margin over Warp Speed, ahead of Okita Soushi in third place and Zardozi in fourth.

Symons was first to speak about the victory post-race.

“Yes. Yes. We wouldn’t be in here if we didn’t think we could (win it),” he said.

“What a great ride by Robbie, you know he stayed in, he took the risk, went through the pack; I was worried he got further back than we talked about, but great ride, what a thrill, what a thrill.

“You work with these horses 24/7 and you know where you’ve got them.

“You’d be disappointed if he didn’t run a good race. To run top 5 in a race like this, you’ve got to walk away happy.

“To win it, it’s a dream come true.”

Laxon followed her training partner in praising Dolan’s ride.

“It was just an awesome and amazing ride by Robbie,” she said.

“He started the race and then had to ride him. We didn’t give him instructions, he just knew what to do.

“Obviously, when you win something like this, it takes a while to register.

“I love it being done for the Australians.

“The Australian horse has done it and Robbie’s Australian now as well. So I’m thrilled to win the Cup.

“It’s the People’s Cup and that’s what it’s all about.”

Dolan was emotional following the win, and he was quick to point out that his family was on course to support him.

“Well, pinch me. I think I’m dreaming,” he said.

“It’s incredible. I just can’t believe it. I don’t even know what to say.

“I can’t even put it into words. This is the biggest race in the world, and to win it is just incredible.

“I’ve got my family here, my partner, Christine, our little baby, Macy. My dad flew over from Ireland, and now you got me in tears.

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

“It panned out exactly as I thought it would.

“Once my horse spotted the gap and he sort of changed leads, and he just sort of picked up on me.

“Once I pulled the stick through, he found another gear again.

“He’s only a small little horse, but he gives his all every start, and that’s half the battle with him, I think and he’s proved a lot of people wrong.”