Our questionnaire is completed by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne, who is now embarking on a career as a trainer
Michelle Payne has ridden 769 winners, five of them at G1 level – but the 37-year-old gained worldwide renown for just one of them. Payne’s 2015 Melbourne Cup success on 100-1 longshot Prince of Penzance was a landmark moment as she became the first, and only, female jockey to win her country’s greatest race.
Payne is the youngest of ten children raised by trainer-father Paddy after her mother Mary’s death in a road accident when she was six months old. Several siblings also became jockeys, and Michelle made it her ambition from primary-school age to win Australia’s greatest race.
She had her first ride in the Melbourne Cup in 2009 for Bart Cummings; when she won on Prince of Penzance six years later, she was one of only four women ever to have ridden in the race.
“One of the best things to see are the opportunities now being given to females in our sport in the big races,” says Payne. “It’s something we’ve fought for all my riding career and for many years before by others. To see anyone given the opportunity makes me feel special for being the first. I don’t think I will be holding that mantle for very long.”
Payne, who plans to ride for one more season, has made her training business in Ballarat, Victoria her main focus. “I’ve been working really hard for the past seven years really trying to work on strategies and get better,” she explains.
“We have been really flying lately as a result and we have some really exciting horses that I can’t wait to train for the spring time and into autumn next year. I couldn’t be happier with it.”
Which racing figure past or present do you most admire?
I probably have to say Frankie Dettori in Europe and, as a legend, Lester Piggott. In Australia it is Steven Arnold. He was one of my main inspirations growing up. For someone of his height [5ft 10in], he showed so much dedication to riding. I was lucky enough to be at Royal Ascot when he won the King’s Stand Stakes on Scenic Blast, plus my sister is very good friends with his wife and my brother is best friends with Stevie, so he is very close with my family. He is incredible. I have so much admiration for him.
Which is your favourite venue, and race, anywhere in the world?
Ascot is one of the best but as a venue Flemington is very prestigious. It’s an amazing course, one of the best courses to race on. If I had to choose one I would have to say Flemington and of course the race would have to be the Melbourne Cup.
I still shake my head in disbelief that I was able to win it. Every year the race comes around and you see all the contenders and how much everyone wants to win it – to think I was able to is amazing.
Who is your favourite racehorse and why?
Black Caviar was just phenomenal. She did everything so effortlessly. I know she only just fell in at Ascot but she wasn’t 100% in herself. She was a horse who I think we will never see the like of again.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
Winning the Melbourne Cup is right up there but riding at Royal Ascot in 2017 was a day I will never forget. It was mindblowing. The atmosphere was incredible and going down to the barriers, everyone was cheering me from either side of the fence.
Kaspersky was 50-1 but he was working really well going into the Queen Anne Stakes. Having won the Melbourne Cup there was a lot of press leading into the race.
I had faith that he was a live chance and he ran that way. He ran fifth behind Ribchester when he broke the track record. If he had been drawn on the outside, he would nearly have been in the first three. He retired to Australia where he is a stallion and I have a foal by him.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
I would like to see some more prestigious races for four-year-old horses. In Australia we have great racing for two- and three-year-olds which you really have to push your horse for. A lot of horses aren’t mature until they are four and five. I’d like to see some better races for that age group; just for four years would be great.
We have the Golden Slipper and amazing races for two-year-olds, Oaks and Derbys for three year-olds.Trying to buy two- and three-year-olds means you have to spend an extra A$200,000 at the sales to get the good-quality ones.
If we had something for four-year-olds then that pressure of trying to get your horse ready for those races would be a bit less and I think we’d see some better horses because of it.
Michelle Payne was speaking to Jon Lees
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