Michelle Payne hopes her landmark victory aboard rank outsider Prince Of Penzance in the Emirates Melbourne Cup will open more doors for female jockeys in the future.
Payne became the first lady rider to win the two-mile Group One at Flemington as the Darren Weir-trained Prince Of Penzance held off Willie Mullins' Irish raider Max Dynamite by half a length on Tuesday morning.
Payne, who has partnered Prince Of Penzance throughout his career, was eager to thank leading handler Weir for his support in what she considers a “chauvinistic sport”.
"To think that Darren Weir has given me a go, and it's such a chauvinistic sport," she told Channel Seven.
"I know some of the owners were keen to kick me off, and John Richards and Darren stuck strongly with me, and I put in all the effort I could and galloped him all I could because I thought he had what it takes to win the Melbourne Cup - and I can't say how grateful I am to them.
“I want to say to everyone else, ‘get stuffed’, because women can do anything and we can beat the world.
“I think one or two of the owners wanted to take me off but hopefully they’re pretty happy with me now.
“I know it’s a male-dominated sport and people don’t think we’re strong enough. It’s about so much more than that, you’ve got to get a horse in a rhythm, be patient.
“I’m so pleased to win and hopefully it will mean people give more female jockeys a go.”
The Payne family are well known in Australia as Michelle is one of eight siblings to pursue a career in the saddle, with her brother Patrick also now a trainer.
Another of Payne’s brothers Stevie, who has Down’s Syndrome, works for Weir and led up Prince Of Penzance for his big-race victory, making it a truly memorable family occasion.
Payne brought her mount with a perfectly-timed run down the middle of the track as Frankie Dettori struggled to find racing room on Max Dynamite and got going all too late.
Weir added: “This is a lifetime dream come true. I’ll enjoy it with these blokes (the owners and staff) for sure. I can’t thank them enough and this is the most unbelievable thing to happen to anyone.
“It all started with this dream to win a Melbourne Cup and Sandy McGregor, a mate of mine, offered to put the money up, and the rest is history.
“He’d had two joint surgeries, then when he was about to come back into work he got a twisted bowel and a colic operation — what an amazing horse.”
