Knight’s Choice won the famous Melbourne Cup in Australia, in an extremely close race that ended in a photo finish.
It was Irish jockey Robbie Dolan’s first victory in the event, but a second victory for New Zealand trainer Sheila Laxon.
Warp Speed finished second in the two-mile competition and Okita Soushi, ridden by Jamie Kah, one of four female jockeys, a field record.
Buckaroo had been favorite to win but finished 9th, with Knight’s Choice – a 90-1 underdog – coming home to take the lead in the final seconds.
Dolan was previously best known as a competitor on Voice Australia, but has now etched his name into Flemington Racecourse history.
“Pinch me, I’m dreaming… I can’t believe it,” he told the local Nine Network.
“I think I’ll be singing for the rest of my life after this. What the hell.”
The 28-year-old comes from a horse racing family, his father Bobby Dolan being part of Irish equestrian training legend Dermot Weld’s team when they produced two Cup winners in 1993 and 2002.
Bobby surprised his son by traveling to Australia for his Melbourne Cup debut and was in the crowd to witness his victory.
It was also a family affair for Laxon, who coached Knight’s Choice with her husband John Symons and lifted the trophy 23 years after her first victory, when she became the first trainer to win with Ethereal.
Thousands of people were on hand lining the Flemington track for the event, dressed in bright outfits and enjoying the sunny spring weather.
The Melbourne Cup is worth more than A$8 million (£4.1 million, $5.3 million) and is often called “the race that stops a nation”.
But in recent years, this phenomenon has sparked protests against animal welfare and its links to gambling.
