Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan believes anything is possible as he chases another boilover victory in the race that stops a nation.
A shock winner on 80-1 shot Knight's Choice in his Cup debut, Dolan is now aiming to become only the fourth jockey in the past century to triumph aboard different horses in successive years.
Dolan picked up the ride on the Ciaron Maher-trained Royal Supremacy after Knight's Choice was ruled out in September, having picked up a virus at Macedon Lodge.
The 29-year-old piloted Royal Supremacy to victory in the Group 1 The Metropolitan at Randwick last month and finished fifth behind Cup favourite Half Yours in the Caulfield Cup last-start.
Dolan will need some luck in Tuesday's 3200m staying test, with Royal Supremacy ($21) jumping out wide from barrier 21.
"I'm going to have to give the horse a great ride to win but that's my job - that's what I get paid to do," Dolan said.
"He's a horse that gets keen and he's tested at the trip, and it's going to be a wet track, so you just have to do the little things right in the early stages of the race.
"From all accounts the horse is going really well and Ciaron Maher's happy. If he's happy, I'm happy."
Dolan is keeping his tactics close to his chest but says last year's Cup win taught him to not to over-complicate the matter.
"It's our greatest race but it's the same as any other horse race," Dolan said.
"You just keep it simple, get your horse in a rhythm, try to save as much energy as you can and hopefully you're on the right horse and you're in front at the line."
Dolan, originally from County Kildare, west of Dublin, is a talented singer who appeared on The Voice three years ago.
He made his first Cup appearance as a sort of novelty contender, still relatively unknown outside racing circles.
This year he enters Flemington under the glare of the spotlight, but isn't bothered by the added attention.
"This sort of pressure is the pressure you work for your whole career," Dolan said.
"The pressure you don't want is the pressure of not being able to pay the bills.
"I'm so blessed to be in the situation I'm in with being able to ride light (51kg).
"I feel good, I feel strong and I'm buzzing for the race day."
Dolan returns to Flemington comfortable in the knowledge he can match it with the best.
"There's only a handful of races that really have that same stature (as the Melbourne Cup) and it's nice to walk into a jockey room knowing that you've conquered it," Dolan said.
