Australia: Days after showing he has the X-factor in the saddle, expat Irish jockey Robbie Dolan has been announced as one of the contestants on The Voice Australia.
Dolan confirmed himself one of the rising stars of the saddle in Sydney when recording his second G1 success on the breakout star of the autumn, Shelby Sixtysix, in the Galaxy at Rosehill on Saturday [March 19].
Now off the track he is also set to win fans when he takes a shot at becoming a pop idol in front of a panel of judges including Rita Ora and Keith Urban after successfully auditioning for the TV talent show, due to air after Easter on Channel 7.
“It’s pretty exciting – it feels like a dream at this stage,” said Dolan, 26. “Singing has always just been a hobby to me. I did school plays years and years ago and always really enjoyed singing.
“Racing took over my life but just recently I’ve started to learn guitar and try to do a few gigs. It’s a step away from racing. I’d love to get into it but it’s hard to have two lives and racing is everything at the moment.
“They are very different worlds but once I got the opportunity to perform on The Voice I was like, ‘Why not, what have I got to lose?’
Kildare-born Dolan was born into horse racing. His grandfather Peadar Matthews won two Irish Classics in the 1960s; both parents, Bobby and Paula, also rode and brother Barry is a trainer in the US.
Dolan quit Ireland at the end of 2016 for Australia with just three winners to his name at home, where he was apprenticed to Adrian Keatley, after securing a job as a work rider.
“I was riding in Ireland with little effect,” he said. “I needed a change to continue improving. I was getting one ride here, one there, and not getting a lot of experience.
“I was going to go to America,” he went on. “My brother is a trainer there and that was always appetising to me but it was difficult to get a visa and I couldn’t afford it. Australia had always been in the back of my mind and I was able to get a job riding out.
“I basically came over with nothing. I had no money, I had a school bag on my back. I just wanted to give it a go.”
Eventually settling in Sydney, Dolan joined the stable of Mark Newnham and over the 2017-18 campaign rode 93 winners, capturing both the New South Wales metropolitan and provincial apprentice championships.
He has now ridden 233 winners altogether, 19 during the current campaign including two at G1 level, the latest on Shelby Sixtysix, part of a double at Rosehill.
“It was a great weekend,” he said. “Sometimes everything goes to plan and Saturday was just one of those days – it was great to get two wins.
“I thought Shelby Sixtysix would run very well on Saturday but I didn’t know if he could win, being a Group 1. He really surprised me the way he let down – he let down like a serious sprinter, not just a horse that likes a wet track.”
Dolan and agent Mark Guest had pitched for the ride knowing the Danny Williams-trained sprinter would have 8st 4lb in the Galaxy, which is a handicap. Their success was a timely boost as Dolan lost the ride on Profondo, on whom he secured his first G1 victory last October, after the horse was a well-beaten favourite in the Australian Guineas.
“Racing is a game of ups and downs,” said Dolan. “Profondo ran very bad first time up so they went with Hugh Bowman who has ridden more than 100 Group 1s. I respect the decision – it’s up to the owners. I was grateful to even ride him.”
Dolan also won’t be in the saddle when Shelby Sixtysix has his next start in the TJ Smith Stakes with Tommy Berry reclaiming the mount.
However, Dolan will have his next G1 start when he partners Gin Martini in the Vinery Stud Stakes on Saturday. “Things are going well,” he said.
“Things went really well as an apprentice. I won back-to-back champion apprentice titles and that was unreal. The first year I came out of my time was very difficult. It’s still pretty difficult but I’ve won plenty of group races and two G1s this season.
“Even if I never got as far as riding winners, As soon as I got to Australia I had no regrets about my decision. I am a permanent resident now, my girlfriend is having a baby in July and I’ve bought a house.
“I’m riding out wherever I can and riding for lots of different stables. Hopefully the Galaxy win showed people that I can ride light still. In these big G1 handicaps that are coming up like the Doncaster and the Sydney Cup, there are a lot of light weights so hopefully I can put my hand up for that.”
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