Irish jockey Robbie Dolan arrived in Sydney with the bag on his back and a dream.
On Saturday, that dream came true when he celebrated his first Group 1 win aboard exciting colt Profondo in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
A two-time champion Sydney apprentice, the young rider has had to work extra hard since graduating to the ultra-competitive senior riding ranks and Saturday’s monumental breakthrough brought him to tears.
“I came here five years ago with a school bag on my back, just trying to ride a few winners,” Dolan said.
“My dad sits up and watches every race I ride in. It doesn’t matter if it’s bloody out in the country or in the city. He watches it.
“He’s up there (in Ireland) probably having a cup of tea now. I’d say the neighbours will know I rode a winner.”
The victory was also sweet redemption for Dolan, who blamed himself for Profondo’s Gloaming Stakes defeat after the colt ducked in badly when he changed hands with the whip.
He thanked trainer Richard Litt and owners the Galletta family for sticking by him when any number of jockeys would have been clamouring for the mount on the glamour colt, who cost $1.9 million as a yearling.
“He’s a machine. He should have won the last day, I’ll take all the badness with that,” Dolan said.
“I pulled the stick through. I panicked a little bit. For the owners to keep me on him today is a token of how nice a people they are.
“He’s tricky to ride and Richard has done an amazing job with the horse. To get him to win a Group One in his first couple of starts is insane.
“I was absolutely cruising at the 400 metres going past a Group One winner (Never Been Kissed) and nothing was catching me.”
Profondo ($2.80 fav) trailed the Flight Stakes winner throughout but quickly put paid to Never Been Kissed ($3.90) to score by 2-1/4 lengths with Alegron ($12) sticking on well another half-length away after starting his run before the turn.
The winner is raced in the same interests as Litt’s retired star Castelvecchio and the trainer was thrilled to get another quality colt so soon in his fledgling career.
“He’s left me speechless. We’ve had two wonderful weeks with him. We have come here today, he was very relaxed and gee, the world is his oyster,” Litt said.
“He will go to the paddock now I think. He will have a nice spell and we are going to have a big attack come the autumn.
“He’s got some amazing races coming up. He’s very exciting.”
Among the races on the radar for Profondo are the Rosehill Guineas and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Gloaming Stakes winner Head Of State was among the fancied runners but was eased out of the race by James McDonald and was later found to have cardiac arrhythmia.
