Michelle Payne reigns supreme in historic Melbourne Cup win

MICHELLE Payne was confident Prince Of Penzance was the best horse she’d ever ridden and today the injury-plagued gelding proved her right.

Prince of Penzance (centre), ridden by Michelle Payne, comes home to win The Melbourne Cup with 100m to go during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. (AAP Image/David Crosling) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

MICHELLE Payne was confident Prince Of Penzance was the best horse she’d ever ridden and today the injury-plagued gelding proved her right.

Payne etched her name into Australian racing folklore as the first female to ride the winner of the Melbourne Cup as Prince Of Penzance upstaged his international rivals.

And it was a huge result for one of Australian racing’s most famous families with Payne’s brother Stevie, the youngest of 10 children who suffers from Down Syndrome, a key to the victory.

He selected the winning barrier at the draw on Saturday before leading in the winner to a massive roar from owners.

The 101-1 outsider of the 24-horse field considered by many the strongest in the race’s 155-year history, Michelle Payne rode the horse to perfection justifying her early assessment of Prince Of Penzance, the longest priced winners since 1940 who has overcome two operations to remove bone chips in his legs and a life-threatening colic attack.

“I always said he was the best horse I’d ridden,’ Payne said. “I’m so glad I stuck with him,’’ she said.

“When I won on this horse as a three-year-old I thought ‘this is a Melbourne Cup horse’. I thought he’d run two miles out, but far out, I didn’t think he’d be that strong.

“I was lying in bed last night and gave myself a chance to think and dream about it, and thought about it as if I was being interviewed after the race.

“It’s a dream come true. This horse is awesome.’’

Payne joins brothers-in-law Brett Prebble (16th on Bondi Beach) and Kerrin McEvoy (7th Excess Knowledge) as Melbourne Cup winning riders, something her champion older brother Patrick was unable to achieve his his decorated career.

Kerrin McEvoy said he had no idea Michelle had won the race until passing the finishing post.

“I didn’t until I pulled up,” McEvoy said.

“I was riding hard myself and then I looked up and saw her in front and I couldn’t believe it.

“It’s an unbelievable thrill for the family, for Michelle to be the first female to win it.

“It’s a fairytale story. We’ve got Stevie (Payne) there working hard in the stable and drawing the barrier and leading the horse up.’’

Payne said the race unfolded perfectly approaching the home turn.

“When I worked into the clear I gave a huge yell and over the line I couldn’t believe it.’’

It was a crowning achievement for Payne, 30, who once declared she would retire from race riding at the age of 28.

“I always thought if I won the Melbourne Cup I’d retire,’’ Payne, who already has her eyes on a training career, said.

For Weir it was the ultimate reward for a boy from the bush who has risen to the top.

Having conquered the Victorian Trainers Premiership last season, this meant so much more for the man who came so close to winning the great race with She’s Archie who beat all but Makybe Diva in 2003.

“I was happy to win a Metropolitan Premiership but I think this tops it,’’ Weir said.

“Some dreams do come true.’’

“He’s an amazing horse. He’d had two joint surgeries, then he was about to come back into work and he got a twisted bowel. What an amazing horse.’’

And there was some South Australian flavour with Weir’s racing manager and key to his stable Jeremy Rogers having grown up in the Adelaide Hills.

“I am speechless,’’ Rogers said. “I can’t believe we just won the Melbourne Cup.’’

“I thought the horse could finish in the top 10, especially when he drew a good barrier, but wow.’’

The 155th Melbourne Cup run in front of a huge Flemington crowd of 101,105 wasn’t without its drama with cult hero Red Cadeaux fighting for his life after breaking down during the race.

The English veteran, contesting a record fifth Cup as an international, was taken to an equine vet clinic at Werribee for emergency care after injuring his nearside fetlock.

Meanwhile Italian rider Frankie Dettori received a one month riding suspension and a $20,000 fine for his ride aboard runner-up Max Dynamite when he caused interference in the home straight.

“It was a bit unfortunate that I couldn’t get the split when I wanted but that’s racing,’’ Dettori said.

Fellow international hoop Jamie Spencer also felt the wrath of stewards for his ride on Big Orange, suspended for 14 meetings.

There was a hard luck story for former South Australian horseman David Hayes and co-trainer Tom Dabernig with Criterion also luckless in third place.

“Probably should have been a different result,’’ jockey Michael Walker said.