Rachel Griffiths presents replacement Melbourne Cup trophy to Stevie Payne
STEVIE Payne, the brother of Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne has stolen the spotlight at Flemington after sharing a heartwarming moment with actor Rachel Griffiths
Confidential
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THE real winner at Melbourne Cup today was racing royalty, Stevie Payne.
Much to his surprise, the strapper and brother of jockey Michelle Payne stole the spotlight when actor Rachel Griffiths presented him with a replacement Melbourne Cup trophy after his was stolen following Michelle’s famous win back in 2015.
Griffiths and the Payne siblings made a special guest appearance in the Tabcorp marquee to promote the upcoming biopic of Michelle’s unforgettable Melbourne Cup win in 2015, Ride Like A Girl.
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Stevie, who plays himself in the movie, said he loved every minute of filming process.
“I loved it and I had the best time working with all the other actors,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
Griffiths, who directed the film, couldn’t speak highly enough of the first-time actor.
“Stevie is really beautiful in the film and I think it’s a process he really enjoyed. He is used to being part of a big family and in a lot of ways, that’s what a film sets are,” Griffiths said.
“He loved the camaraderie … the makeup girls …. and loved being spoiled,” she added.
Griffiths also spoke of the responsibility that comes with portraying a true story about someone’s life.
“There is always a lot of responsibility when you’re telling a real story because those people are still living and sometimes you have to take some artistic license to deliver the tale but you just have to really make sure it’s in the spirit of the truth and certainly in regards to real people, not make them anything they’re not.”
But the star of the show Michelle, who is played my Teresa Palmer in Ride Like A Girl, admits she was happy to take a back seat and leave the film in the hands of the professionals.
“It’s a bit overwhelming so I just left it up to the experts and just enjoying the ride,” Payne said.
“I have good faith in Rachel Griffiths and Richard Keddie (producer).”
Following the brief appearance, Michelle very politely excused herself from the room full of media and swapped her red, structured Jason Grech dress for jockey silks as she prepared to ride in the fifth race of the day.