Knight’s Choice Wins the 2024 Melbourne Cup

Robbie Dolan rides #11 Knight's Choice to win race seven the Lexus Melbourne Cup during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 5, 2024. Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Knight’s Choice has won the Melbourne Cup in a massive boilover, prevailing in a photo finish from Japanese raider Warp Speed.

Ridden by Irish expat jockey Robbie Dolan, Knight’s Choice surged past his rivals and hung on in a thrilling finish for trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon.

Noboru Takagi’s Warp Speed was second by a nose, with in-form jockey Jamie Kah third on Okita Soushi.

It was Dolan’s Melbourne Cup debut.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I feel like I’ve ridden it 10 times because I have ridden it in my head 100 times,” Dolan told broadcaster Nine after the race that stops a nation.

“To win it with him [father Bobby] here and my little daughter Maisy and my partner Christine, I’m going to cry again. Jesus Christ.

“Look, you can’t do it without [trainers] Sheila and John. They were so confident in this horse even before he got to this race. A lot of people doubted them.

“And to be honest, I didn’t.”