Becoming the first, and only, female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup made Michelle Payne an international star, whose remarkable story, ‘Ride Like A Girl’, was shown on the big screen.
On Tuesday she will make her debut on the small screen in Britain as a guest contributor on ITV Racing for the first day of Royal Ascot, and will also be appearing on the network on Thursday, Ladies’ Day.
When she made history on 100-1 shot Prince Of Penzance in 2015, Payne let years of frustration at the lack of opportunities for women as jockeys come out, telling her critics to “get stuffed”.
The rider of 769 winners, five at Group level, is excited to have been invited to work at the where her experience of riding Kaspersky to finish fifth in the 2017 Queen Anne Stakes ranks as one of her most memorable moments.
“It was probably one of the best days at the races for me,” she said. “The Melbourne Cup is a race like no other back home but being a part of Royal Ascot and that day was absolutely mindblowing.”
Payne, who is still an active jockey and trainer in Melbourne, said: “I’ve been hoping to get on the ITV team for the last few years and this year they were happy to accept me. I can’t wait to be a part of it.
“I have done a fair bit of TV at home, including the last five years of the Melbourne Cup and the other races leading up to the Spring Carnival whenever it fitted in.
“I think I can bring a different perspective as a jockey and now a trainer that people at home might not know, like those intricate details that you learn as a rider and a trainer.”
Viewers will be especially keen to know Payne’s view on the Australian challengers, Coolangatta and Cannonball in the King’s Stand Stakes, and Artorius, who lines up in the Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
“I think they are very exciting,” she said. “Coolangatta looks to have settled in really well. Her gallops have been fantastic, but I think Cannonball has been overlooked. He is in good form in his training and will be a real challenger for Tuesday.
“Artorius deserves to win. He was very good last year when he was a bit unlucky. He has the quality, he just needs a little bit of luck to go his way.”
Payne’s achievement in the saddle earned her the prestigious Don award for Australia’s most inspirational sporting performance of 2015 and in 2021 she was awarded an Order of Australia medal.
A number of top level female jockeys have emerged since, none to yet land the Melbourne Cup.
“I don’t think I’ll be holding that mantle for very long,” she said. “One of the best things to see is the opportunities being given now to females in our sport.
“That’s something I fought for all my riding career as did many females before me. It makes me feel special to have been the first one and hopefully helped to create those opportunities”
