Melbourne Cup-winning jockey met trainer of winning horse on P&O Cruise

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey met trainer of winning horse on P&O Cruise

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan met Sheila Laxon, trainer of winning horse Knight’s Choice, for the first time while on a Melbourne Cup Cruise with P&O in 2022.

That chance meeting has turned into a winning partnership that has now led the pair to their incredible win at Flemington today (Tuesday).

Well known for his singing ability, The Voice contestant was belting out a tune on stage when he saw Laxon who was on the same Melbourne Cup-themed cruise two years ago.

“She was there, and I thought, ‘Wow, it’s Sheila Laxon. I’d better grab a selfie’,” he recalled and the pair getting a shot of themselves together.

“Now, three years later, who’d have thought we’d win a Melbourne Cup together?” he said after the 100-1 shot swept home.

In 2025, the now renamed P&O cruise ships Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendor will carry more than 7,000 guests to the famous race day – nearly 10 per cent of the event’s total attendance.

This year, guests onboard both P&O and Carnival cruise ships included legendary jockey Peter Cook, who had two Melbourne Cup wins and a Caulfield Cup victory, in more than 1,000 career wins.

Also on board was Jim “Pumper” Cassidy, known for his iconic Melbourne Cup win on Kiwi at age 20, a race still celebrated for its record-breaking finish.

Corey Brown, two-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey with 52 Group 1 wins globally, over 250 black-type race victories, and more than 2,400 total wins in Australia was another guest.

Looking ahead, P&O cruises will continue to bring talent and unique experiences to Melbourne Cup voyages under Carnival Cruise Line with Carnival Adventure, alongside Carnival Splendor, in 2025 and 2026.

Watch the video HERE.

For more details carnival.com.au or pocruises.com.au.

Feature image: One of the P&O Melbourne Cup Cruises.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Emirates announces third Dubai – Melbourne route to launch in March ’25, Singapore – Melbourne route scrapped

Emirates has announced it will introduce a third non-stop service between Dubai and Melbourne, starting from 30 March 2025. The new service will be operated by a newly retrofitted four-class Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, equipped with the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy product and latest generation Business class seats. The airline currently operates two non-stop daily flights […]

  • Aviation

Qantas Freight unveils specially decorated ‘Santa’s Freight’ aircraft

Qantas Freight has unveiled a specially decorated “Santa’s Freight” aircraft as it prepares to deliver more than 50,000 tonnes of international and domestic freight for the festive season. This year, Qantas Freight volumes for the Christmas period are expected to be up 5 per cent compared to last year as online shopping continues to boom. […]

  • Aviation

Qatar Airways surprises Melbourne passengers with upgrades to celebrate 15 years

Qatar Airways has celebrated its 15th anniversary in Australia by giving passengers Business Class upgrades at Melbourne Airport on Friday. The airline has flown over 9.7 million passengers in and out of Australia since starting its operation in 2009 with Australian operations commencing on 7 December 2009 with the Melbourne-Doha route. Since then, the airline […]

  • Cruise
  • Events

Norwegian Cruise Line joins Take 3 for the Sea for a beach cleanup

Norwegian Cruise Line joined forces with Take 3 for the Sea last 5 December at North Steyne Beach and Park for a beach cleanup event in aid of International Volunteer Day. The NCL team collected 1,070 pieces of rubbish, totalling 2.2kg at the Sydney location. The collected debris included 412 cigarette butts, 147 pieces of […]

  • Hotels

The Hilton brand debuts in the Republic of Moldova

The international Hilton brand is set to debut in the Republic of Moldova with the opening of its first hotel in Chisinau, marking a significant step in strengthening the country’s HORECA industry. The endeavour provides tourists with another option for world-class accommodations, excellence in standards and premium services. “Hilton’s entry into the Moldovan market is […]

  • Destinations
  • Sustainability
  • Tourism

Singapore Tourism Board accelerates its sustainability journey

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has unveiled two pioneering initiatives to bolster tourism and support the Singapore Green Plan 2030. The first is the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Attraction Criteria, the world’s first global standard specifically designed for attractions. The second is the MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook, a comprehensive guide to enhancing green practices […]