Melbourne Cup Recap: Knight’s Choice winner in stunning photo finish at Flemington

Headshot of Jake Santa Maria
Jake Santa Maria
The Nightly
Knight's Choice, right, ridden by Robbie Dolan, crosses the finish line to win the Melbourne Cup horse race ahead of Warp Speed, ridden by Akira Sugawara, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Knight's Choice, right, ridden by Robbie Dolan, crosses the finish line to win the Melbourne Cup horse race ahead of Warp Speed, ridden by Akira Sugawara, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Credit: ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE/AP

It’s the race that stops a nation!

Stay across all the news and colour around today’s Melbourne Cup, after Knight’s Choice took out the race in spectacular fashion.

Here’s how the race unfolded

Robbie Dolan takes the win in his first ever ride at the Melbourne Cup after one of the best rides you’ll ever see.

If you missed the race here’s how it happened.

Sing it loud!

If some are thinking Robbie Dolan looks familiar he was a former contested on The Voice making it through to the quarter-finals in 2022.

Fair to say this achievement may top that.

What happened to the favourites?

Buckaroo came home for a non-descript 9th place while Vauban failed again on the big stage finishing in the middle of the pack in 11th.

Who finished last?

We’re still waiting for the full results to be confirmed but it appears trailed Trust In You home in last place.

Scratch that it’s Just Fine trailed home in last after leading the front half of the race. Hopefully he’s ok.

Robbie Dolan speaks

“He hit the line really well the other day and was unlucky not to place,” he says.

“I watched every Melbourne Cup far the last 40 years. I thought my best chance was to get him to stay the trip, and hopefully he can run home and do the quick sectionals, he can on a good track and he proved everybody wrong.

“I don’t really know what to say it’s unbelievable, I’m gonna cry again.

“It’s just incredible I decided to cut the corner once my horse spotted the gap he found another gear and he’s proved a lot of people wrong.”

Knight’s Choice wins the Melbourne Cup

It’s A PHOTO FINISH!

And the $63 outsider Knight’s Choice takes it by a nose ahead of Warp Speed and Okita Soushi.

Robbie Dolan timed his run to perfection to hold of the late run of Warp Speed as Soushi faded.

Zardozi is fourth.

1000m

Just Fine still leads from Land Legend and Circle of Fire but the pack is closing in

2000m

Just Fine, Circle of Fire and Land Legend have put about a length on the field oth Pkita Soushi leading the chasing pack.

And they’re racing

Just Fine hits the early lead ahead of Land Legend and Circle of Fire

10 minutes to go

The horses are being paraded through.

A reminder there are only 23 runners with Athabascan a late scratching after race vets detected an issue with his heart.

Buckaroo is the $6 favourite ahead of Onesmoothoperator ($7) and Vauban ($7.50).

Those looking for the biggest roughie Manzoice is trailing the field at $101.

Originally published on The Nightly

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