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By Ray Hickson

Robbie Dolan is no stranger to being a headline act, particularly since his star turn on The Voice last year, and racegoers at Moruya’s Newhaven Park Country Championships meeting on Sunday have the chance to meet the jockey turned singer.

Dolan rides Toretto for Matthew Dale in the $150,000 feature race and will be made available between races, with exact times to be determined, on Country Championships Day for a photo opportunity, a chat and an autograph plus he'll likely have some hats to give away.

Since his appearance on The Voice, Dolan has released a single called 'Stay With Me' and travelled the country playing gigs but he hasn’t lost his drive to ride winners.

Robbie Dolan (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“It’s nice to have something outside of racing because racing can be full on,’’ he said.

“But it’s made me more eager to start riding winners again. I feel like I’ve been riding as well as I can and I have the best strike rate I’ve ever had this season.

“If people want to come say hello and have a photo taken come on down, it should be a great day.”

Moruya Jockey Club executive officer Ken Brown said it’s a great bonus to have the support of jockeys from Sydney and encourages fans of the talented Irishman to take the opportunity to interact with him.

“It’s great when we get the high profile jockeys down here,’’ Brown said.

“Robbie’s got two crowds he can bring. We haven’t asked him to play but maybe next time he comes he can play as well.”

Moruya hosts the South East Country Championships for the first time in its own right, having staged the event on Nowra’s behalf in 2020, and Brown said the town has been galvanised for its biggest race meeting ever.

And it’s clear the club is keen to make an impression and ensure 2023 isn’t the only time the Country Championships come to the south coast town.

“The track is going to be mint, we’re expecting a bumper crowd,’’ he said.

“Most people are just proud to have it here and everyone is excited for the event. We’ve got some great local food on offer at the track and the under 35s bar will be pumping.

“We want to be the best club in our area and we need to get events such as this to prove we are.

“We’ve been trying to get the Country Championships for the past few years and will be trying to get it again no doubt.”

All the entries, form and replays for Sunday’s Country Championships meeting at Moruya