Brisbane midwife Grace Solomon-Innes trying to win the 2024 Melbourne Cup as part-owner of Sea King

A young Brisbane midwife hopes Australia’s most iconic sporting trophy – the Melbourne Cup – will land in her safe hands.

She’s the midwife who hopes Australia’s most iconic sporting trophy will land in her safe hands.

Young Brisbane midwife Grace Solomon-Innes spends her weeks delivering babies, but she now hopes well-fancied import Sea King will deliver her the Melbourne Cup.

Solomon-Innes is one of an eclectic group of owners who will be cheering for Sea King on Tuesday after buying an ownership share not long after the English import, trained by Harry Eustace, arrived in Australia.

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The 22-year-old watched with joy as Sea King surged into the Melbourne Cup and near the top of Cup betting charts with a thumping win in the recent Bendigo Cup.

The glitz and glamour of racing are a world away from her day job which also gives her great joy.

“I’m working in a caseload model of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, we look after them from six weeks into the pregnancy until about six weeks post-natal,” Solomon-Innes said.

Grace Solomon-Innes, pictured at the Kelly Schweida Racing Stables. Picture: Richard Walker

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“We are on call for them 24-7, so any issues with their pregnancy we go and see them and then we are there for them when they give birth.

“I’m hands-on with the births, through the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

“It is really rewarding, especially with some of the mums who need a little bit of extra support.

“But this week, I’ve taken Melbourne Cup day off work so I can watch Sea King in the big race.”

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Solomon-Innes, who has been a midwife for almost two years, fell in love with racing when she was a schoolgirl.

She was first attracted to the Cup through the feats of Who Shot Thebarman – a beloved galloper across multiple Melbourne Cups.

Solomon-Innes is currently in the ownership of six horses and explained she got into the part-ownership of Sea King because the galloper was set to be trained by Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn after the Melbourne Cup.

Grace Solomon-Innes. Picture: Richard Walker

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“A lot of my friends just enjoy coming to the races, they don’t really care too much about the racing aspect, they just want to have a good day out,” she said.

“With this horse, I found out that Matt Dunn was going to be taking over the training after the Melbourne Cup and there were a couple of (ownership) shares up for grabs.

“A horse that I will always remember is Who Shot Thebarman, I really loved him when I was a young girl.

“Another Cup winner, Verry Elleegant (2021 Melbourne Cup champion), is one that you can never go past.

“Last year, I actually backed the winner Without A Fight so there was a good celebration afterwards.”

Sea King stormed into Melbourne Cup contention by bolting home in the Bendigo Cup. Picture: Racing Photos

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Solomon-Innes will resist the temptation to go to Melbourne on Tuesday and will instead be at the Eagle Farm races, cheering Sea King from afar.

To be ridden by English jockey Hollie Doyle, Sea King is an $11 chance to score the Melbourne Cup and has drawn the inside barrier.

Originally published as Brisbane midwife Grace Solomon-Innes trying to win the 2024 Melbourne Cup as part-owner of Sea King