News Digest

Pleasure for Payne: Michelle becomes first female jockey to win Melbourne Cup

Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to win the A$6.2 million ($4.44 million) Melbourne Cup on Tuesday as she rode rank outsider Prince of Penzance to a famous victory in Australia’s richest and most prestigious race. Jumping from barrier one, Payne bided her time until well into the final straight before pushing the 100-1 shot clear at the 200-metre mark and held off a charging Max Dynamite by three-quarters of a length. Local stayer Criterion crossed the line third in the grueling 3,200-metre handicap at Flemington racecourse in front of a bumper crowd of 100,000 bathed in late spring sunshine.

I was lying in bed last night and gave myself a chance to think and dream about it, and thought about it as if I was being interviewed after the race. It’s like a dream come true.

Winning jockey Michelle Payne

Prince of Penzance’s win was a triumph for the Payne family, with Michelle’s brother Steven, who has Down Syndrome, the six-year-old gelding’s strapper. Payne said her ride was straining at the reins coming into the final turn and took her chance when the Dunlop-trained Trip to Paris (fourth), opened a path through the front-runners.

What a beautiful ride I couldn’t thank her enough.

Trainer Darren Weir