How the 2015 Melbourne Cup was won — Michelle Payne pilots Prince of Penzance to

EVEN under siege by one of the world’s top jockeys, Michelle Payne had no intentions of surrendering the perfect spot she had secured in running.

How the Melbourne Cup was won

EVEN under siege by a jockey rated the best in the world, Michelle Payne had no intentions of surrendering the perfect spot she had secured in running.

Payne was able to take full advantage of barrier one to have Prince Of Penzance in the box seat from the outset — not that everyone else in the race was happy about it.

“I had to get him up and running,” Payne said.

“Joao Moreira (The United States) was trying to come across me and I was like ‘no, I’m still in here’ and he was a bit annoyed because he had to go back across to get in. I was not giving up that position I had.”

Having enjoyed the soft run, Payne’s next task was to decide when to make her winning move and again, she had to make a tough call that was not necessarily going to please everyone.

“Down the back he was strong on the bridle. I thought I just had to sit here and hold him. Get him into a rhythm and not waste energy,” she said.

“Darren (Weir) said to follow Max Dynamite and Criterion, who were ahead of me. I knew he said to stay behind them, but there was a beautiful run that opened up to the outside of Trip To Paris and it would have been crazy not to take it.

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The field makes its way down the straight at the start of the 2015 Melbourne Cup. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“I got onto the back of him and he was travelling so well coming to the corner, I could not believe my luck.

“I didn’t want to be unlucky and I got out a bit soon and then tried to wait and when I let loose I’ve never yelled so loud in my life and I just couldn’t believe it.

“We had won the Melbourne Cup.”

Jockey Michelle Payne thunders ahead of the field on Prince of Penzance to win the Melbourne Cup.

Originally published as How the 2015 Melbourne Cup was won — Michelle Payne pilots Prince of Penzance to