Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne will not ride in Saturday’s G1 Toorak Handicap due to illness.
Payne was booked to ride International galloper Kaspersky in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield but due to illness will not be able to fulfil her duties.
Luke Nolen is the replacement rider on English horse Kaspersky in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield with Michelle Payne suffering a bout of the flu.
Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam said Payne had informed her and connections she would be unable to take the mount in Saturday’s Group One race because of the flu.
Chapple-Hyam called on Nolen’s services after meeting him in England when Black Caviar was housed at her stables for her win at Royal Ascot in 2012.
Payne has missed riding Kaspersky in two trackwork sessions at the Werribee quarantine centre in recent days.
She also missed riding the horse at Newbury in England in August because of illness.
Kaspersky is a $12 chance in Toorak Handicap odds.
