2024 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan again shines at Ipswich

Robbie Dolan ventured to Ipswich two days after his Melbourne Cup win last year and he was back there again on Wednesday doing what he does best.

Robbie Dolan was the king of Ipswich two days after winning last year’s Melbourne Cup and he was the toast of the town again on Wednesday when he scored the rescheduled $105,000 Bat Out Of Hell.

Dolan was posing for pictures and signing autographs – as well as riding a winner – at Ipswich last November when he took the Melbourne Cup trophy he won for Knight’s Choice two days earlier to the track west of Brisbane.

Fast forward to this week and the Irish-born jockey was partnering Flag Hall, trained by fellow Melbourne Cup-winning legend Lee Freedman, to victory in the Bat Out Of Hell (1100m).

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The race had been rescheduled from last Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes card when it had been meant to be the final race of the day but was washed out as the heavens opened on the Gold Coast.

Not that it mattered to Dolan or Freedman who enjoyed the win on the sprinter who started $6 at Ipswich.

Flag Hall plunged in weight from when he had carried 62kg at his previous start at Eagle Farm – he only had 52kg on his back at Ipswich.

🦇 The Bat Out Of Hell at @IpswichTurfClub belongs to Flag Hall for @ZRKD and @freedman_lee! 👏@RaceQLDpic.twitter.com/JqHCPvkLM2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 14, 2025

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“He is too good of a horse to have 52kg and he quickened up really well, he probably could have won by further,” Dolan told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

Dolan has been invited to ride in this year’s Shergar Cup at Ascot, with jockeys from all over the globe set to converge on Ascot for the six-race series in August.

He has been selected to ride on the Great Britain and Ireland team.

Meanwhile, an exciting “brute” of a two-year-old colt who is a half brother to $975,000 earner El Morzillo did it the tough way and dug deep to score the 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Ipswich.

Holy chip! A close finish at @IpswichTurfClub sees Guac On 🥑 claim victory over Green Spring!@schweidaracing | @RaceQLDpic.twitter.com/KQZZ5uCVTf

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 14, 2025

Guac On drifted alarmingly in betting, from $5 to $10 before trimming back in to start $7.50.

Kelly Schweida trains the young colt and also puts the polish on his older half sister El Morzillo, the filly who won a $1m restricted race at Flemington and holds a nomination for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

Guac On bungled his debut run terribly last month at Doomben, when started the $1.85 favourite, but the Ipswich triumph made it two wins in a row.

Exciting two-year-old colt Guac On wins at Ipswich for trainer Kelly Schweida and jockey Noel Callow. Picture: Natasha Wood / Trackside Photography

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Starting from the widest barrier, Noel Callow surged the colt to the lead in the Ipswich straight and he clung on as well-backed $2.60 favourite Green Spring charged late.

“I couldn’t believe the price today when he got out to $10, I thought that was crazy,” Schweida said.

“Like his half sister, El Morzillo, I think he will be better when he is ridden quietly but we couldn’t do that today.

“He is a bit of a beast and he’s a bit of a bully. He’s a brute.”

Guac On’s victory was the first leg of a winning treble for Callow, who also took out a 1680m Class 4 aboard the Chris Waller-trained Super Chilled and a 1200m Class 4 on Aldolfito for Eagle Farm conditioner Matthew Hoysted.

Originally published as 2024 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan again shines at Ipswich