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Melbourne Cup gets messy as punters let their hair down after 80-1 Knight's Choice stunner

Some racegoers would have been celebrating big wins, while others were drowning their sorrows.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·3-min read

It was once labelled 'decadent and depraved' by the British media, and the Melbourne Cup never fails to deliver when it comes to punters getting messy at the end of the day. This year's festivities didn't seem to get as wild as years gone past, but there were still plenty of racegoers looking worse for wear as the day wore on.

Plenty would have been celebrating big paydays after Robbie Dolan rode 80-1 chance Knight's Choice to glory, with one punter scooping over $3 million by nailing the quinella. But for many more they were probably drowning their sorrows after bets that didn't pay off.

For the 11th year running, the pre-race favourites failed to fire as Vauban and Buckaroo finished 11th and ninth respectively. The two horses were heavily backed in betting, and many at Flemington would have been cursing their luck on Tuesday. Check out some of the best photos as racegoers let their hair down on Melbourne Cup day below:

Racegoers at the end of Melbourne Cup day.
Some were feeling worse for wear at the end of Melbourne Cup day. (AAP Image/James Ross)
Staff at Flemington cleaning up rubbish. (AAP Image/Con Chronis)
Staff at Flemington are always faced with a mountain of rubbish. (AAP Image/Con Chronis)
One racegoer, pictured here taking a little snooze.
One racegoer took a little snooze. (AAP Image/Con Chronis)
Punters at the Melbourne Cup.
Some racegoers were happier than others. (AAP Image/James Ross)
Racegoers singing and dancing.
Some racegoers took an opportunity to sing and let their hair down. (AAP Image/Con Chronis)
Staff cleaning up after Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Staff begin the clean up after Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Staff members and racegoers after the Melbourne Cup.
Flemington is always left in a rather messy state. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Racegoers pose for a photo at the end of the day.
Some punters would have won big. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Irish expat Dolan - from County Kildare, west of Dublin - arrived in Australia eight years ago and fell in love with the country. He famously appeared on The Voice in 2022 and blew everyone away with his singing chops, but not nearly as much as his performance at Flemington on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old's stunning ride aboard Knight's Choice on Cup debut has cemented his relationship with his adopted home, and he admitted after the race he's keen to stick around even longer. "I was young and immature and I probably needed to go somewhere to expand my experience," Dolan said of his move to the other side of the world.

"I planned on coming for one year and I've been here for eight and now I've won a Melbourne Cup. I probably don't see myself going home anytime soon."

Robbie Dolan, pictured here with his wife and daughter after winning the Melbourne Cup.
Robbie Dolan with his wife and daughter after winning the Melbourne Cup. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

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Knight's Choice earned $4.4 million for the win, while connections also got their hands on the famous Melbourne Cup trophy worth another $750,000. It took the five-year-old gelding's career prize-money to $5.84 million, after owners recently turned turn an offer to sell the horse to Hong Kong for $2.3 million.

"(Owner) Cameron (Bain) knocked back quite a sizeable offer the media have kept reminding us about, that horses don't come out and win that sort of money," trainer John Symons said at the winners' post-race press conference. "Can someone please write, for him and his dad, this is the pinnacle - and what about his decision now? He's turned $2.3 million into whatever the first prize-money is today."