DOLAN LINKS WITH MATCHA LATTE CHASING ANOTHER RANDWICK MAJOR
MELBOURNE Cup winning jockey Robbie Dolan will ride Matcha Latte in Saturday’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi ended a search for a rider today for the sole provincial representative in the $1.5m feature after Brisbane-based Dolan had chased the mount.
“I was at the barrier draw at Randwick this morning when Robbie messaged me,” Dilmi said this afternoon.
“He said he wouldn’t have to waste much to ride Matcha Latte at his 50kg, and I confirmed the booking after contacting the gelding’s owner overseas.
“Robbie has proven himself at Group 1 level and it was important to have a jockey not put up overweight on Matcha Latte.”
Whilst Dolan has not ridden for Dilmi during his brief career since taking over as Domeland’s head trainer on the Central Coast at the beginning of last season, he did have a couple of rides for Dilmi’s former boss James Cummings, now based in Hong Kong.
“Robbie rode Cascadian for James in the same race seven years ago,” he said.
French import Cascadian also carried 50kg when at his third Australian start, the subsequent four-times Group 1 winner ran seventh to Kolding in the 2019 Epsom.
Dolan’s maiden Group 1 winner was Profondo in the 2021 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick, followed by Shelby Sixtysix in the 2022 The Galaxy at Rosehill Gardens, Knight’s Choice in the 2024 Melbourne Cup at Flemington, and Royal Supremacy (who also carried 50kg) in The Metropolitan at Randwick 12 months ago.
Courtesy of Newcastle Jockey Club, Dilmi galloped Matcha Latte with stablemate Great Idea on the course proper at Broadmeadow this morning.
“I expected to work on the Beaumont track (inside), but the club allowed me to use the course proper,” Dilmi said.
“Great Idea (a recent first-up Taree winner) is a good trackworker, and they went 1200m.
“It was really good work, and I was very appreciative of the NJC giving me the opportunity (with Wyong closed for trackrenovation) to gallop Matcha Latte on a lovely big grass track.
“The trip away from the stables at home has done him good.”
Matcha Latte, last year’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) winner (and third earlier this year) at Randwick, has been placed at both Group 3 assignments at the same track this preparation.
He is Dilmi’s first Group 1 representative, and is one of the Epsom outsiders at $101 with TAB.com.au.
Nineteen horses were accepted for the Epsom, and Matcha Latte drew barrier 15.
“At first I was disappointed as I was hoping for a good draw,” Dilmi said.
“But I have since learnt that a lot of recent Epsom winnershave drawn midfield and worse, so that has given me a lift.
“Matcha Latte is fit and if he can get a nice run with cover up near the front, I’m confident he will run really well.”
James McDonald’s mount Autumn Boy (barrier one) is the current $3.50 favorite ahead of boom New Zealand mare Well Written ($4.50), who is unbeaten from seven starts, including two Group 1s.
The Epsom will be her Australian debut, she has also drawn close in barrier three, and will be ridden by Zac Lloyd.
STORY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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