Michelle Payne never imagined she would beat “the world” to claim the first Melbourne Cup for a female jockey, but she did want to beat her jockey sisters.
The youngest of 10 children, Payne always wanted to be a jockey, though never in her wildest dreams did she think she would be the one among her seven jockey siblings to win the Melbourne Cup.
“No, I thought I’d be better than my sisters; that was my main aim,” Payne said.
Payne has battled to get to the top in the male-dominated jockey business.
“I can’t say how grateful I am (to the people who helped me), and I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world,” she said on winning the $6 million race.
Payne shared the win with her whole family, including her brother Stevie, who works at trainer Darren Weir’s Ballarat stable and was centre stage as one of two handlers for Prince Of Penzance at Flemington.
Payne always thought she would retire if she won a Melbourne Cup, but that plan has been well and truly shelved.
“I’m going to be in the game forever. It’s what I love. It’s my passion. It’s an amazing industry.”
Weir, Payne and 100-1 chance Prince Of Penzance were up against sheiks and European racing royalty.
“You don’t need to have all the money in the world to win the greatest race in Australia and nearly the world,” Payne said.
“This horse is $50,000 and he won a $6 million race.”
Weir said six-year-old Prince Of Penzance could happily retire.
“I don’t care what he does,” the trainer said.
“He can retire now, he’s done his job.
“He’s got a place in a paddock at my place forever.”
It was a dream come true for Prince Of Penzance’s owners, led by Sandy McGregor and John Richards, and a 50- or 60-strong syndicate.
Richards also took out the final race at Flemington with Scarlet Billows.
“You couldn’t believe it could happen, could you, in one day?” the long-time racehorse owner said.
“A lot of my life is spent with racehorses and I’ve been having a pretty ordinary run lately, and all of a sudden it turns around to this degree. It’s just fantastic.”
