Melbourne Cup Tour 2025 set to visit New York, 35 destinations across Australia

Melbourne Cup champions Michelle Payne and Robbie Dolan have teamed up to relive the “magic” of the nation’s most-famous race. Then Dolan did something that blew the crowd away.

Gilbert Gardiner

@gilbertgardiner

5 min read

May 29, 2025 - 12:51PM

Melbourne Cup Jockeys Michelle Payne and Robbie Dolan with Melbourne Cup horse Prince of Penzance for the launch of the 2025 Melbourne Cup Tour. Picture: David Caird

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Melbourne Cup champions Michelle Payne and Robbie Dolan have teamed up to relive the “magic” of Australia’s most famous race at Flemington.

Payne, reunited with her beloved 2015 Cup winner Prince Of Penzance, and Dolan headlined the Melbourne Cup Tour launch on Thursday.

Singing jockey Dolan, who sensationally won the Cup last year aboard Knight’s Choice, opened the occasion with a rendition of Irish rock band U2’s Beautiful Day.

Melbourne Cup winning jockey Robbie Dolan covers U2

A decade on from her landmark Cup triumph, Payne, the first female jockey to win the race that stops a nation, remained in awe of the milestone moment.

“To be honest, I could take you through the race like it was yesterday but so much has happened it does feel like 10 years,” Payne said.

“It is just so special, it’s been a decade, it makes you feel even more special because every year comes around… and you try to pick the winner, you could literally pick 15 live, live chances and still get it wrong.

“You know how hard it is, one to get into the field, let alone everything to go your way in the race, the barrier, the running, the horse has to be right on the day.

“It’s an amazing thing for it all to come together, and you to be the lucky one, I still can’t believe it.

Melbourne Cup jockey Michelle Payne holds up the Lexus Melbourne Cup from students from St Margaret’s Primary School, Maribyrnong. Picture: David Caird

“To be able to win it and then relive it at all of these events is amazing and I think the best story about Robbie was him and (trainer) Sheila (Laxon) meeting on a cruise ship when he was singing, one of those meant-to-be moments.”

Payne praised the work Living Legends, a not-for-profit retirement farm north of Melbourne for equine turf icons, has done with their horses, including Prince Of Penzance.

“I actually couldn’t be more amazed at how calm he’s become and how much he’s relaxed into retirement,” Payne said.

“It’s as good as you could hope to see, he’s loving life… Living Legends do an amazing job with their horses, he looks fantastic, he patiently and calmly takes carrots off you very gently and stands in photos, usually horses can be patient but he’s made for the new role, it’s great to catch up with him.”

Dolan, a major draw card at events, speaking and singing engagements, is appreciative of the Melbourne Cup after glow.

“It’s a pleasure, these are moments that jockeys dream of,” Dolan said.

“I definitely don’t take anything for granted, I just enjoy it.

“It’s unreal, 10 years on from me winning it (like Payne now) I’m sure I’ll still be enjoying it the same way I am today.

“It’s one of those races you just can’t really explain why it’s so incredible, the history is there but there’s something magic about it.”

His popularity has extended to supermarket aisles and airport security checkpoints.

“You’ll be in there getting your bread and milk and people are just like, “Oi, Robbie Dolan”, random stuff like that, the airport is another one,” Dolan said.

Melbourne Cup winning Jockey Robbie Dolan sings to the audience at Flemington for the launch of the Melbourne Cup Tour for 2025. Picture: David Caird

“There was a security woman at the carousel (a couple months ago) when I was checking in my suitcase, had the Melbourne Cup in carry on and she asked was this my bag?

“She opened it and saw the Melbourne Cup and she started crying, balling her eyes out, she said she used to go to the Melbourne Cup with her grandfather when she was a little girl, stuff like that is pretty cool.”

Dolan, who famously appeared on reality singing contest The Voice, has his own songs to release shortly.

“I like singing because it makes me happy and makes others around me happy,” Dolan said.

“I don’t really worry too much what people think about me, I just go with the flow and live life, I do a bit of racing and a bit of singing here and there.

“I’d like to release a bit more music eventually, again, I go with the flow and that’s what life is all about.

“I’ve got a few songs in the pipelines, just sitting behind the scenes, me and my mates are messing around with, a couple of them are really nice, so I’d like to put them out and see what people think of them.”

Students from St Margaret’s Primary School Maribyrnong with the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Picture: David Caird

The 2025 Melbourne Cup — an 18-carat gold trophy that’s now worth a record $850,000 – will visit six Australian states and territories as part of a 37-stop trip from Thursday 5 June to Melbourne Cup Day on November 4.

The cup will visit a number of Australian towns that have recently experienced severe drought and flooding, including the Wimmera town of Warracknabeal in Western Victoria, with the aim of the Tour to uplift community spirit.

VRC CEO Kylie Rogers was excited for the journey of this year’s event.

“The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour is one of the most significant ways we can share the excitement and legacy of the Lexus Melbourne Cup with communities across Australia and beyond,” Ms Rogers said.

“We’re also proud of how the Cup continues to reach and inspire the next generation – through visits to schools and engagement with young Australians, we’re ensuring the story and spirit of the Melbourne Cup lives on for years to come.”