Glen Boss blasts Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne’s ‘boys club’ claim

MICHELLE Payne’s call for racing’s boys’ club to “get stuffed” has divided the industry, with jockey Glen Boss saying she might regret her post-Melbourne Cup spray.

2015 Melbourne Cup day at Flemington Racecourse, Race2- Glen Boss onboard Zarzali wins. Melbourne. 3rd November 2015. Picture: Colleen Petch. MelbourneCup15

MICHELLE Payne’s call for racing’s boys’ club to “get stuffed” has divided the industry, with triple Cup winner Glen Boss suggesting the 30-year-old might live to regret her post-race spray.

Champion jockey Boss, who famously won his three in a row on the back of Makybe Diva, said Payne’s pointed words minutes after Tuesday’s win to those doubters who said a female jockey would never hold the Melbourne Cup was distracting from the enormity of Prince of Penzance’s triumph.

“Maybe Michelle had a bee in her bonnet and decided to air it,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “(In the emotion of the ­moment) a lot of things are said and done and probably she’ll reflect on it in a couple days and say ‘Maybe I could have handled it better’, maybe not.

Michelle Payne finishing fourth onboard Akzar in the Kyneton Cup. Picture: Colleen Petch.

“Michelle’s that type of woman, she’s a real strong character, that’s why we all love her. There probably is an underlying (chauvinism) there, but those barriers are being broken down bit by bit.

“It’s fair to say it still will be a male-dominated sport, that’s the way it’s been for a long time and the sooner people get their heads around that the better.”

However, leading female jockey Kathy O’Hara came out in support of her friend Payne, adding her victory on Tuesday would help pave the way for future female riders.

“I think it’s huge,” she said.

“Michelle would know all too well. Every jockey gets dropped off occasionally but women more than anyone. I’m the same. You finally get on a good horse and get taken off it because of your gender.”

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Jockey Michelle Payne. Picture: Alex Coppel

Jockey Glen Boss. Picture: Colleen Petch

Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys also praised Payne’s skills in capturing arguably the most ­famous trophy in Australian sport.

“It’s a two-mile race. People don’t realise the effort and strength that jockeys have to put in,” he said.

“It’s a 600kg animal. It’s like bench-pressing 600 kilos.

“To be fair and honest, there are a lot of people in the racing industry who do have a view that females aren’t as good as the males, but I think that Michelle proved them wrong yesterday.”

Michelle Payne celebrates after Tuesday’s Cup win with her brother Steven, who works as a strapper. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Sandy McGregor, one of the major owners of the 100-1 underdog that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the race, said Payne’s “11 out of 10” ride was a significant milestone for aspiring female jockeys. “Something good happened here — it was one for the true believers,” he said.

“She outraced (Italian jockey) Frankie Dettori and he’s in the top five in the world.”

Legendary trainer and 2013 winner Gai Waterhouse agreed that Payne’s victory was one for the ages. “It was fantastic. It was a real Australian story — one of those ­remarkable stories you don’t often get in racing,” Waterhouse said.

“That Darren Weir supported her, stayed with her after she won so brilliantly at Moonee Valley on the horse. Most female jockeys, by the time they get to Michelle’s age, are well and truly retired.”

Michelle Payne reads the form prior to the Kyneton Cup yesterday. Picture: Colleen Petch

Originally published as Glen Boss blasts Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne’s ‘boys club’ claim