‘I’m sick of eating this posh stuff’: 2024 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan rides a winner at Ipswich

Just two days after winning the Melbourne Cup, jockey Robbie Dolan was back in the saddle at Ipswich. And after winning the last, all he could think about was getting some KFC.

Two days after winning the Melbourne Cup, jockey Robbie Dolan was back in the saddle riding a winner at Ipswich – but all he could think about was KFC.

Dolan’s life has changed forever in an incredible few days, but that didn’t stop him fulfilling his riding commitments in scorching 38-degree heat at Ipswich, west of Brisbane, on Thursday.

Winning the last race on well-backed $2 favourite Victory Command – in the process collecting a $780 winning jockey’s percentage plus a $250 riding fee – was a world away from his stunning victory aboard $91 Melbourne Cup outsider Knight’s Choice. For that win, his winning jockey’s percentage was a lazy $220,000.

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But don’t for a moment think Dolan’s recent financial windfall had changed his modest tastes.

“I’m going to get some KFC on the way home,” Dolan said.

“I’m sick of eating all this posh stuff the last few days.”

From Flemington to @IpswichTurfClub!@ZRKD rides Victory Command to a win in the last today! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/yIiwx9TXU6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 7, 2024

Dolan started a riding suspension after riding at Ipswich and is expected to fly back to Melbourne on Saturday to be part of the television broadcast coverage of Champions Day at Flemington.

It comes with the territory, given Dolan’s new-found celebrity.

On Wednesday, Dolan – himself a former contestant on The Voice – found himself singing alongside fellow Irishman Ronan Keatng at the Crown Oaks Club Lunch.

Robbie Dolan (right) sings with Ronan Keating at an Oaks Day lunch on Wednesday. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

• Ride of his life: A day when Dolan couldn’t lose

“Ronan was thrilled to sing with me,” Dolan quipped.

“He is a legend, he has followed me on Twitter for a while.

“I knew Ronan watched The Voice because he shared some footage when it first came out,

“I was chatting to him back stage before singing the other day and he’s just like one of the boys.

“He said ‘just come out and sing and have a bit of fun’.

“I didn’t even know the words to some of the songs too well.”

"@ronanofficial was thrilled to sing with me!"

2 days after his Melb Cup victory, Robbie Dolan @ZRKD was back in the saddle in 38-degree heat at Ipswich. And he admitted to @bendorries76 that he felt like a celebrity, despite the unassuming location. 👇https://t.co/o8v3ZUcVMspic.twitter.com/ena7DgHAXG

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) November 7, 2024

Today, Dolan was feted by fellow Queensland jockeys and racing fans when he arrived at Ipswich – and when it came to the Melbourne Cup, he said he would do it all again even without the prize money.

“The money for the Melbourne Cup is really life-changing,” Dolan told Racenet.

“But to win the race itself, it’s a lot more than about the money.

“If you had said to me do you want to win the Melbourne Cup with no prizemoney, I would have said no problem.

“My life has changed a lot, there are people following me around with cameras, I feel like a celebrity.”

Robbie Dolan shows off his Melbourne Cup trophy to 91-year-old Ipswich Turf Club member Brian Christensen. Picture: Grant Peters/ Trackside Photography

• Melbourne Cup win a Qld fairytale 163 years in the making

Dolan arrived at the provincial Thursday meeting at Ipswich proudly carrying the Melbourne Cup trophy, with retired former star jockey Robbie Fradd acting as security guard for the Cup.

Dolan was greeted by wellwishers including 91-year-old Brian Christensen, a long-time Ipswich Turf Club member who rocked up with his mates.

“I did say before the Melbourne Cup that if I won it, I wouldn’t be riding at Ipswich on Thursday,” Dolan said.

What a few days for @ZRKD - here's what he said after Victory Command's win in the last at @IpswichTurfClub... and he's looking forward to some KFC! 😆 🍗 pic.twitter.com/DOs3YUrp8T

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 7, 2024

“But you don’t see a footballer kick a winning goal and then not turn up the next week.

“I don’t even know if the Melbourne Cup has ever been to Ipswich racecourse, but that’s not really the point.

“People are walking down the street who know nothing about racing, now know who I am.

“And all the other jockeys in the room today have been giving me back slaps and telling me how much they were cheering me on in the Cup.

“If it wasn’t almost 40 degrees here at Ipswich today, this would be unbelievable.”

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan holds his trophy with fellow riders at Ipswich today. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

• Dolan in full voice on Melbourne Cup stage

When Dolan hit the deck in an Eagle Farm fall on July 20, not even in his wildest dreams could he have envisaged winning the Melbourne Cup only months later.

Dolan broke his hand in the fall which caused Eagle Farm to be shut down for a while as jockeys felt horses had been shying at a new building being constructed next to Queensland’s premier racetrack.

“It’s funny how things change in this game,” Dolan said.

“That’s the highs and lows of racing right there, if you look at the last few months for me.”

Originally published as ‘I’m sick of eating this posh stuff’: 2024 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan rides a winner at Ipswich