Irish jockey Robbie Dolan has delivered another stunning performance alongside pop star Ronan Keating as he revelled in his Melbourne Cup success.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan has set his sights on more Group 1 success after his stunning Flemington triumph aboard Knight's Choice.
Dolan shocked the racing world with his brilliant ride on the 80-1 long-shot on Tuesday, holding off Japanese raider Warp Speed in a photo finish.
And it's been a whirlwind since, with Dolan partying late into the night with family and friends in Melbourne.
The 28-year-old - a talented singer who appeared on The Voice two years ago - backed up on Wednesday for a cameo performance wowing crowds at the Crown Oaks Club lunch alongside pop star Ronan Keating.
But any thoughts of Dolan getting carried away with his success have been quickly put to bed, with the jockey honouring his commitments with four rides at Ipswich on Thursday.
"I don't know if the Melbourne Cup's ever been to Ipswich before," Dolan said.
"I've committed myself to the owners and I don't want to let anyone down."
Dolan had ridden two Group 1 winners before the Cup - both in Sydney more than two years ago - and claimed Australia's greatest race at his first attempt.
It's a safe bet that plenty more doors will now open for the boy from County Kildare, west of Dublin, who arrived in Australia eight years ago and fell in love with the country.
"Group 1s are where it's at, so hopefully it won't be my last," Dolan said.
"To be honest, I'm just going with the flow. I'm just winging it like I always do and I'm just soaking it all in.
"It's not only big for me but it's big for my whole family.
"I come from a small town, so my parents are probably going to be the most famous people in the whole town. It's just incredible."
But he relished his time on stage with countryman Keating, of Boyzone fame, as the pair belted out 'When You Say Nothing At All' and Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl'.
"It's funny, I thought I'd reached a level but it just keeps going and going," Dolan said.
"I don't know what's going on, to be honest."
Dolan's underdog Cup success brought memories flooding back for champion jockey Michelle Payne, who was amazed by the Brisbane-based hoop's performance.
Payne famously became the first female jockey to win the Cup when she saluted aboard Darren Weir-trained 100-1 shot Prince Of Penzance in 2015.
"That's what makes racing so great, the underdogs can win," Payne said.
"It gives everybody a chance and everybody hope that it could be yours next year."
Payne urged Dolan to appreciate the experience and his new-found fame.
"It's a game that really brings you back to earth but he'll be still on a high for a long time," Payne said.
"Try and enjoy it, that's all I can say. It's a bit of a whirlwind.
"There's so much fun that comes with it, and I think Robbie will (enjoy it).
"He's been on The Voice and he loves being a bit of a showman, so I think he's going to really lap it all up."
AAP
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